| Babies are truly a miracle and are fragile when | | | | their development and be deadly if not treated. |
| they are first born. They require constant | | | | The cause for this disorder is normally enlarged |
| attention and care during their first year of life. | | | | tonsils and removing them will remedy it. |
| Sleep is vital for their growth and development. A | | | | SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is one of |
| newborn baby averages sixteen hours of sleep a | | | | the scariest disorders every parent does their |
| day and they get the amount they need in thirty | | | | best to prevent. A baby suffering from SIDS |
| minute to three hour segments. The amount they | | | | stops breathing while asleep. They have to be |
| get is normally evenly dispersed between day and | | | | encouraged to resume breathing. It is not |
| night. Most babies wake throughout the night to | | | | something they automatically start doing again on |
| feed until they are around eight months old. When | | | | their own. Certain genetic and environmental |
| they are breast fed, they are more likely to | | | | elements have been linked to this condition, but |
| wake and do so more often. They may have | | | | the overall cause has not been determined. Babies |
| trouble sleeping for many easily resolved reasons | | | | who are more at risk are set up with monitoring |
| including hunger, dirty diaper, sickness, pain, and | | | | systems. These systems alert the parents as to |
| frustration. | | | | when they have stopped breathing. Several things |
| Even though it may be hard to believe, babies | | | | can be done to reduce the chances of SIDS from |
| just as older children and adults can suffer from a | | | | developing in an infant. First, a baby should always |
| sleep disorder. The types they suffer from are | | | | sleep on their back and have a firm mattress. No |
| more limited and range from mild to severe. | | | | fluffy comforters or stuffed animals should be left |
| Parasomnias, obstructive sleep apnea, and SIDS | | | | in the bed with them while they are sleeping. A |
| are the most common disorders found among | | | | baby sleep system can be used to prevent them |
| babies. Night terrors and sleep walking are | | | | from turning over while sleeping. |
| parasomnias. They are not found in babies less | | | | The best way to determine if your little one is |
| than eighteen months. When they do occur, their | | | | having sleep issues from a sleep disorder is to be |
| sleep pattern is disrupted and they do not get the | | | | aware of their sleep patterns. If you notice any |
| sleep they need. | | | | changing in their sleeping habits, all concerns need |
| Obstructive sleep apnea is found in adults and | | | | to be discussed with their pediatrician. When a |
| children, but the symptoms for babies and older | | | | baby does not get a sufficient amount of sleep |
| children are quite different. Babies will continuously | | | | can cause them to be cranky and be harmful to |
| snore when sleep and breathe through their | | | | their development if not resolved. A pediatrician |
| mouth. Their air passage can become completely | | | | can evaluate any changes and determine if your |
| blocked causing them to stop breathing. This is a | | | | child is suffering from one of these baby sleep |
| very dangerous condition that can greatly stunt | | | | disorders. |