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Some recent information has been released of a possible connection between child sleep disorders and their sleeping positions. Read on to see what the possible connections are.  

Everybody must have at one time or another seen their child or someone else’s child sleeping in odd positions. It is normal to see the children sleeping in weird positions, and many times seeing them sleeping that way brings a smile to our lips. However, did you know that each such position means that the baby might develop a child sleep disorder sometimes later in life?

Surprised? The statement took me by surprise, too! Yet it seems to be true. A number of medical studies have been carried out that show that there is a clear and definite connection between the way a child sleeps (when they sleep in strange positions) and an imminent child sleep disorder.

Children who sleep with buttocks-up-head-down position (if it looks like they are pushing their head against the headboard keeping their body muscles completely taut) seem to lead to night own-hair-pulling later on in his/her life. Children who sleep with their heads hanging down, and will not allow their position to be changed, tend to develop body rocking at some stage or other.

When a child sleeps in an arched position, it implies that the child may develop night asthma attacks. When this occurs after an accident or some other head trauma, it is indicative of excessive intracranial pressure.

There are times when the child sleeps like dead, i.e. the child is so relaxed and breathes so slowly that it looks like they’re dead. In this case, the child might develop bedwetting or sleep apnea. This can lead to another type of child sleep disorder, head banging. When the child sleeps with arms outstretched in front of them it is a possible sign of sleepwalking later on in life. They also may develop sleep-talking habits.

One sleeping position remained unexplained, i.e. when the child sleeps with eyes open. There have been many research studies on this aspect, but no connection was found to any child sleep disorder yet. Nonetheless, the position is quite scary and parents tend to get worried about it.

There have been sufficient research studies that agree with the report of the above findings. It would be an idea for parents to seek medical advice if they observe any strange sleeping habits. This might help avoid a sleeping disorder if noticed early enough.

News On Child Sleep Disorders

UH center focuses on sleep disorders in children

UH center focuses on sleep disorders in children Houston Chronicle Copyright 2012 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 09:56 p.m., Saturday, January 14, 2012 Candice Alfano brought her pediatric sleep specialty to the University of Houston, where she opened the Sleep and Anxiety Center for Kids in September.