Archive for the ‘Nightmares’ Category

Sleep Problems in Children

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Worrying about your children is part and parcel of being a parent, but sometimes we worry about the wrong things, and don’t realise where a problem might really lie. The sooner you are able to recognise the symptoms of any issues your kids might have with sleep the easier it should be to stop things getting worse. How your child sleeps affects their waking life as much as it does their bedtimes, so before you peruse bedstar beings you a brief guide on how to spot the sleep problems some children have, and those which might seem worse than they are.

Sleep walking and talking are common in kids and are sometimes signs of a bigger issue but usually not a problem, unless it causes them to wake up a lot or seem tired in the day time. The most important thing to do if your children sleep walk is make sure the house is safe for them to wander around.

Nightmares are another typical feature of children’s sleep as their imaginations become more developed and active. Whilst they can be unsettling, occasional nightmares are natural and generally not a sign of a sleep problem.

Things to look out for:

Consistent sleep pattern

Does your child stick to a set bedtime and fall asleep around the same time most nights?
How much sleep do they need and how much do they actually get?
Does he or she wake up very early sometimes and late other times?

Bedtimes
Does your child find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep at bedtime?

Daytime sleepiness
Does your child get sleepy during the day or need to take a lot of naps?
Is falling asleep at school a problem?
Is it difficult to get them up in the mornings?
Are they hyperactive or moody (classic signs of being tired)?

Snoring
Does your child often snore loudly?
Do they ever choke or stop breathing for a moment whilst asleep?

Night awakenings
Does your child wake up a lot in the night?
Do they struggle to get back to sleep when they wake up?

If your child has trouble with any of the above on a regular basis it’s a good idea to discuss with your GP whether your child has a sleep problem that could be having a detrimental effect on their development and education. Try to create a relaxing but structured sleep routine for your children, and help them to avoid anything that will make dropping off harder, like watching TV before bed or having sugary drinks or snacks.

So once you’ve got your children into a good bedtime routine and are watching out for all the potential sleep stealers, there’s one thing left to check – and that’s their bedroom. Bedstar has a great selection of bargain kids beds for any age to help you make sure you child is comfy in bed and that you both get a good night’s sleep.

Nightmares

Thursday, August 16th, 2007

Here at Bedstar.com, not only do we offer you great deals on mattress prices online, but we also like to share our expert advice on getting a great nights sleep. After you looked through our medical articles, why not browse through our catalogue for the most competitive mattress prices online!

A nightmare is a very distressing dream which can lead to partial awakening. The individual can feel any number of disturbing emotions in a nightmare, such as anger, guilt, sadness or depression, but the most commonly known feelings are fear and anxiety. Nightmares can take on many different themes and also be recurring. Probably the most common theme is being chased. Adults are commonly chased by an unknown male figure whereas children are commonly chased by an animal or some fantasy figure.

Just about everyone has experienced nightmares at one time or another. The majority of children have nightmares between the ages of three and eight. These nightmares appear to be a part of normal child development, and do not generally signal any unusual problems. Nightmares have been known to be less common in adults, though studies have shown about 5-lO% of adults have nightmares once a month or more frequently.

Some nightmares can be triggered by certain drugs or medications (by rapid withdrawal from them), or by a physical condition such as illness and fever. The nightmares of early childhood likely reflect the struggle to learn to deal with normal childhood fears and problems.

Some people can experience nightmares after they have suffered a traumatic event, such as surgery, the loss of a loved one, an assault or a severe accident. The nightmares of combat veterans fall into this category. The content of these nightmares is typically directly related to the traumatic event and the nightmares often occur over and over. Other people experience nightmares when they are undergoing stress in their waking lives, such as difficulty or change on the job or with a loved one, moving home, pregnancy, financial concerns, etc. Finally, some people experience frequent nightmares that seem unrelated to their waking lives. These people tend to be more creative, sensitive, trusting and emotional than average

Sometimes nightmares are related to intense stress or emotional conflict that is best dealt with in consultation with a therapist. One should not hesitate to consult a doctor when in doubt.

Research has shown that many people are not really disturbed by their nightmares, even though the experiences themselves are distressing. About half of people who have quite frequent nightmares regard them as fascinating and creative acts of their minds, and either view them as very interesting or dismiss them as “just dreams”. This illustrates the fact that your attitude toward nightmares is quite important.

We’ll turn your nightmares into dreams. For a great night’s sleep with some of the best bed & mattress prices around, take a look at our comprehensive catalogue. You won’t find better mattress prices online. We stock beds from all the major manufacturers so you be hard pushed to find more competitive bed and mattress prices on the internet.