2. Little Amber was already three-and-a-half before she fully
adjusted to sleeping during the night. Before that, her
stressed-out parents had to take turns in sleeping just to
monitor their nocturnally hyperactive daughter. They even
resorted to moving her playpen into their own bedroom
just so she could play through the night without getting
hurt while they were asleep.
4. According to a group of medical researchers
from the Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden,
problem-sleepers like Amber have greater
chances of having Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder.
Proper child ADHD assessment is important to
determine if whether or not a child does have
the disorder. The researchers compared 6-12
months-old children who had difficulty sleeping,
with other children of the same age bracket that
had no problems sleeping.
After five years of constant monitoring, it was
found that one of four children with severe sleep
problems during infancy have been diagnosed
with ADHD before they turned six years old.
5. Young children rarely have any severe sleep disorders. Only 27 of
over 2,000 children that were involved in the research fell under the
criteria of chronic sleep disorders. The doctors, who conducted the
research, compared the 27 children to the 27 who were also sound
sleepers.
6. Among the 27 children that developed sleep problems during their
infancy years, seven have been diagnosed with ADHD five years
later. The child ADHD symptoms displayed by these children were
even more severe when coexisted with other behavioral disorders,
which are higher than standard activity levels and psychosocial
issues in their family.
7. According to Dr. Larry Silver, M.D., a Psychiatrist in Rockville,
Maryland, “children and teens that have ADHD normally find
sleeping at night difficult because they are unable to turn their
heads off. Once in bed, they are active, displaying fidgety
movement. Their attentiveness also goes up a notch once they’re in
bed. They tend to hear even the most subtle sound in the room and
find it difficult to ignore even the slightest of movements.”
8. Silver also claims that taking medications like Adderall, Ritalin, or
Dexedrine every night can help an ADHD person sleep. “Yes, these
medications do cause various sleep problems.” Silver adds.
“However, when other conditions like ADHD is preventing you from
sleeping, taking these medications can work to counteract those
symptoms and help you get to sleep faster.”
10. There are many other
remedies for sleeping
for individuals with
ADHD; these tips would
include setting up a
fixed bedtime schedule
and having your
personal bedtime ritual.
These rituals would
include the following:
• Reading a book
• Making plans
for tomorrow
• Meditating
• Drinking warm
milk/tea
• Writing a Journal
• Taking a Warm
Bath
• Listening to
Good Music
11. For children with ADHD, having a constant routine is very
essential. As parents, start slowing things down ten to twenty
minutes before your child goes to bed. Also, make plans on
how you can make their bedtime a fun and peaceful experience.
Read them stories, all while talking quietly; you can even just sit
beside their bed and talk to them until they fall asleep. Playing
soft music while singing can also help the child relax. Some
children also want their heads to be rubbed slowly. It all
depends on what relaxes your child.
12. Conclusion
At the end of the day, getting an overly energetic child to sleep is
still going to be a challenge. The key formula here is simple,
optimism and consistency. If you want your ADHD child to sleep at
night, you should not give up on them that easily. Stay positive and
work towards perfecting your tailored evening ritual. The effort will
all be worth it. For parents with ADHD children, nothing is more
rewarding than seeing your child sleep soundly and peacefully.