Insomnia does not only affect adults, as millions of children also suffer from it from time to time. However, insomnia in children is more likely to have an easier solution. For one thing, children's lives tend to be less complicated and stressful than those of adults. Furthermore, their sleep cycle is less likely to be influenced by alcohol or caffeine. There are several good pieces of advice to keep in mind to help your child fall asleep.

Causes of Sleeplessness in Children

While insomnia is an extremely common problem in adults, it tends to affect only older children. Fortunately, the etiology of pediatric insomnia is generally easier to identify. The most common trigger for sleeplessness in children is stress.

As your child grows older, her social life becomes more complex. Academics, friends, sports, and even family members can all be sources of stress for a child. Unresolved tension during the day can intrude into the night and interfere with sleep.

Besides a television, many children have their own computers in the bedroom. When the temptation of a live online community is right there, the urge to chat with friends into the wee hours of the morning or play online games until dawn can be too much for many children to resist.

What You Can Do

First and foremost, it is important to establish a regular bedtime for your child. The human body obeys a circadian rhythm that helps people regulate a sleep-wake cycle. Once firmly in place, this cycle can help you fall asleep faster and easier. Unfortunately, many adolescents have the habit of staying up late and waking up late during the weekends, thereby breaking this cycle. Once Monday comes along, they have to readjust to the old schedule. Encourage your child to stick with the same schedule during the weekends. This solution will go a long way toward curbing your child's insomnia problem.

While you cannot make your child fall asleep, you can make her stay awake during the times when she should be awake. Try not letting her sleep in or take naps, even if her schedule allows such downtime. You might be doing her a favor. Sleeping during the time when she should not be sleeping could only make falling asleep more difficult at bedtime.

Try your best to address the specific stresses in your child's life. While some sources of stress are beyond your control, it is nevertheless important to discuss them with your child. Children might have an exaggerated fear of a situation and worry excessively about something that may not be as threatening as they perceive.

Remove any potential distractions from the bedroom. Video games or television should not be kept in your child's bedroom. In addition, restrict the hours your child spends online.

Finally, parents should limit children's caffeine intake during the day. Caffeinated beverages can wreak havoc on the sleep pattern and potentially cause academic difficulties and trigger safety concerns.

Some children take medications that might interfere with their sleep cycle. If the medication is disrupting sleep, talk to your doctor about the possibility of adjusting the timing and dosage of the medication. Usually, an alternative way of dosing the medication can be used to avert this problem.

A Cautionary Tale of Sedative

Aiding your child's sleep with sedatives should be considered only as a method of last resort. If you do choose to use a sedative, do so only on a short-term basis. Many medications have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Beside, it is more important to identify the underlying cause of insomnia in your child than to simply cover it up with sedatives.

Most pediatricians agree that the only appropriate role for sedatives in alleviating children's insomnia is during periods of high stress. For example, sedatives can be safely used in the days leading up to a major elective surgery or during hospitalization. Once the stress resolves, the sedative should be discontinued immediately to curb any potential for dependence.