It is normal for men and women to snore, especially as we get older. Children who are snoring may be new to our ears. But in actuality snoring is quite common in children. As a matter of fact it has been estimated that 10% of children on their preschool years do snore. There are various reasons why children snore. It can be due to asthma attacks, allergic reactions, nasal obstruction, sleep apnea, and it can also be due to physical exhaustion from a long day play or school.

Majority of child snoring is considered normal and it has been estimated that only 2% of the children population who snore have serious conditions. But it cannot be denied that parents are often worried when their children snore. Many parents wish that their children would stop snoring so that they will have peace of mind.

Here are some of the ways on how to get rid of child snoring:

• Limit your child’s activity during the day. When they are very tired from the day’s activities, they tend to snore at night. They are also more prone to have bedwetting and nightmares when physically exhausted.
• Limit your child’s food intake especially during dinner time. Being very full can lead to snoring and increase the risk of the child to have sleep apnea (cessation of breathing while at sleep).
• Keep your child’s weight to its normal level. Encourage your child to eat a well balanced diet and to exercise so that being overweight and obese can be avoided. Weighing more than what the child is supposed makes him or her prone to snore and have other sleeping disorders.
• Make sure that your child does not have nasal congestions as this could be the cause of the snoring. When the child has and coughs and colds, the nasal passage are then blocked making the flow of air ineffective. When the child inhales during sleep, the child can then make a sound resembling to a snore. If the nasal congestion is not treated, then the child would still have difficulty breathing and would continue to snore during sleep.
• Let your child sleep on his or her side. This will allow proper airway circulation making less chances of snoring.

When your child still snores despite doing these interventions, then it is time to see the doctor for a check-up. Your child may have a serious condition that is why snoring is manifested during sleep.

It is two in the morning and you are already tired but you wake up to realize that your  child has crawled into your bed and apparently wants to join you because of having trouble getting back to sleep.

Interestingly, studies have shown that all individuals regardless of age do not actually sleep through the night and at some points do wake up. The problem primarily exists when a person has difficulty going back to sleep; when a child to suffer this kind of problem, there are helpful things parents can consider. There are different factors to be on the lookout for as some children are not keen on verbalizing what really bothers them unless they are patiently asked or coerced. These late-night visits should be investigated as these could mean an expected anxiety on an upcoming examination, the natural fear of children specifically toddlers that death is imminent and that the earth could swallow them or an alien could visit them because of the movies they have watched and even peer problems. Alternatively, anything that is deemed as a deviation from the normal things that your child is accustomed to such as a vacation, a change in schedule or an illness could also be reasons for late-night visits.

Inasmuch as it would be great to have your child beside you when a visit occurs, the change in frequency should already warrant you to act on a possibly long term problem that could develop into something more serious. Foremost, you can actually share your room with your child. Sharing your room actually means that your child has to familiarize his self onto reclining in a sleeping bag you will have to locate somewhere in the room and definitely not in your bed. With this setup, your child will realize that the bed he is accustomed to is way better and he will definitely revert to his own bed.

As the first option may not be appealing to some, develop a good plan and that would entail you to really wake up in the middle of the night, carry or accompany your child back to his own room, pat him gently with a kiss and then leave. This could be a routine you will have to establish to time and again for your child to be able to establish his sleeping habit. It is also beneficial if sleeping aids are avoided. This is because these aids in the form of a stuffed toy, a fave music or anything else might actually hinder your child from dozing off again if he wakes up in the middle of the night. You can also reward your child for being able to sleep in his own room and not disturbing you. Although this may seem bribing at first glance, parents will appreciate this strategy of giving gifts for a child who has accomplished something.

Finally, give into those late-night tugs by getting into a crisis discussion with your child. Assure your child about how safe your house is and how he can combat his fears by praying.

Like adults, children can have sleeping disorders too. This can be a very big problem for parents and of course for the child. It is during sleep that growth hormones are released so sleep is very important for the child’s proper growth and development. Parents should be aware of their child’s sleep disorders and do something about it before it can cause their child’s health.

Here are some of the most common sleep disorders in children in children and what parents can do to correct the situation:

Nightmares

Children are very imaginative. They love to hear stories and watch movies that are full of horror and suspense. There is no problem with watching this kind of movies and stories, but some children can be awake in the middle of their sleep because they are imagination. Although nightmares are not really a health threat; having them so often can cause the child to have poor quality of sleep. During the day the child may display weakness and have poor concentration in school.

Parents should be watchful on what their children watch in television and of course have a specific time when watching the television. As much as possible, should not be allowed to watch television especially those with horror themes during bedtime.

Narcolepsy

This is characterized by extreme sleepiness especially during the day. This is not a common condition that affects children, but still there are portions of the children population who have the condition.

When parents find out that their child displays sleepiness most of the time, they should bring their children to the doctor for proper treatment and diagnosis.

Resistance to Sleep

Children are like little lawyers, they have reasons for everything. Just like during bedtime, they will always say that they are not sleepy even if it is already pass their bed time.

To fight this, parents should have a bed time for their children to follow. See to it that this is strictly followed. It is also best to tuck your children to bed when it is already time for them to sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Children who have this condition are having upper airway obstruction while they are sleeping. During sleep the child may snore, breaths with mouths opened during sleep, and have difficulty in breathing.

Upon seeing your child having this symptom, you should see his or her pediatrician. The condition can be life threatening especially if not managed well.

When a child gets restless in bed, wake up in the middle of the night or stay wide awake during sleeping hours, he could be suffering from a sleeping disorder. Adults are not the only ones who experience sleeping problems, children as young as 2 years old can also have this experience. Toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children who have sleeping problems might have difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep or both. These children might also have frequent nightmares, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, bed wetting while sleeping.

 During the day, children with sleeping problems appear fatigued and stressed out. Generally they feel very tired and sleepy. The 2 main reasons for sleeping problems in children are poor sleeping habits and anxiety. Starting at 2 years old, children will already develop a regular sleeping habit. This includes sleeping and waking time as well as the bedtime routines the child does such as brushing his teeth, taking a bath and praying.

Regular sleeping habits are initially taught by the parents and once the child gets accustomed to this activity he can already do it on his own. In some cases, children have certain fears regarding sleep. Sleeping anxiety develops when the child doesn’t feel comfortable being alone in his room or sleeping in the dark. This can also occur when the child doesn’t want to be separated from his parents.

Anxiety will cause a certain degree of stress on the child’s sleeping habits. Children with sleeping anxiety usually experience nightmares, scary dreams, sleep terrors, sleep walking and bed wetting. Children need to get at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep per day. Getting enough rest and sleep facilitates normal growth and development. A child who lacks sleep might experience mood changes, behavioral problems, and stunted growth as well as learning and concentration difficulties. To avoid these negative effects, here are some tips to help children overcome sleeping problems.

1. Encourage a positive bedtime routine – A positive bedtime routine focuses on preparing the child for a calm and relaxing sleep. Making the child’s room conducive to sleep by providing adequate ventilation, lighting and temperature. A night lamp will help some children sleep better. Avoid doing active play and activities a few hours before sleep. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, soda and tea must also be avoided during bedtome.
2. Sleep Training – Children can be taught how to sleep properly but in doing so, parents need to be extra patient since children learn at different paces. To train children how to sleep, parents can demonstrate comfortable positions while lying on the bed. Parents can also teach the child to count sheep if he doesn’t feel sleepy yet.
3. A glass of warm milk – Drinking milk has a lot of health benefits and having a restful sleep is one of them. Milk contains tryptophan, a substance that can make people sleepy. Drinking milk not only makes the bones stronger, it can also help children sleep better.
4. Medicines – Under the doctor’s supervision, parents can try giving sleeping pills to manage their child’s sleeping problems. Antihistamines can also be given to help children sleep.

As much as children would want to play, they also need to get enough rest and sleep in order to grow and develop properly. Children at different age groups have different thoughts and feelings toward sleep. Toddlers and pre-schoolers hate to sleep; they would rather play outside the whole day than take their afternoon nap. On the other hand, some school age children might use sleep as an alibi to miss homework or attendance from school. Most of the time, children consider sleep as an activity they must do every day. Sleeping, like eating, bathing and playing, is part of their regular routine. When does sleep become a problem to children? Similar to adults, children also experience sleeping disorders. They can have nightmares, excessive sleep and insomnias. Children approximately need 9 to 12 hours of sleep every day, younger kids especially newborns and infants need more hours. When this number of sleeping hours is not met, the child’s growth and development is disrupted. Several medical conditions, such as headaches, high blood pressure and poor appetite can potentially develop if the child has problems sleeping. There are many factors that contribute to sleeping disorders in children. Factors like diet, physical activity, medications and the environment affect sleep in children. Food items such chocolate and candies can make kids awake and alert. A child who eats these things at night will have difficulty falling asleep. A very noisy and loud atmosphere doesn’t help; it only distracts the child from sleeping. Here are some tips that can help solve sleeping problems in children.

1.  Set a reasonable sleeping and waking schedule – The parent and child must both agree on a sleeping schedule. The number of hours should also be included. For example. A 7 year old child who already goes to school, should sleep at 9pm and wake up at 6am. With this schedule, the child will get sufficient sleeping hours.
2. Offer a warm bath before bedtime – Contrary to belief, warm baths before bedtime can actually soothe and relax children. Making this activity as part of the daily routine can facilitate sleep.
3. Bedtime can become a bonding time – Parents and children can bond during bedtime. Parents can read a story before tucking the child in bed or they can talk about how the child’s day went. This activity doesn’t only help with the child’s sleeping problems; it can also make his relationship with his parent stronger.
4.  Provide an environment that is conducive for rest and sleep – The child’s room must be well ventilated and must have the right temperature, not too cold or too hot. Some children prefer a well-lit room while others can sleep better if it’s dark. The atmosphere in the room must be calm, serene and quiet.
5. Avoid giving foods that can affect sleep – Caffeinated drinks such as soda, coffee and tea must be avoided at least three hours before bedtime. These drinks will make falling asleep difficult. Drinking a warm glass of milk is encouraged; milk contains tryptophan, a substance that can facilitate sleep.

Noni juice is made from the fruit of the noni tree and has been used as traditional medicine for many years in the islands of the south and central pacific. The native Polynesians were the first to use noni as part of their medicinal healing, traditional uses include use as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory, skin treatment, treatment of burns, intestinal problems, food poisoning treatment, treatment for bowel problems, and to combat bites from insects.

Today, noni juice is taken as a daily tonic by people worldwide, although most of the production is still concentrated in the Pacific.

Noni juice has been approved by the FSA, providing proof that use of noni juice is safe and non-addictive.

Children can experience the benefits of noni juice as well as adults, although they require a slightly smaller dose (there is no overdose potential, don’t worry!). As a supplement noni juice can have many health benefits for children, if you think noni has the potential to help your child you should read more about noni juice.

Taijiquan, sometimes known as Tai Chi Chuan, is a Chinese martial art known for its health and spiritual benefits. Regular taijiquan practise leads to an increased conscious control of ones body. Taijiquan theory is based on relaxation of muscle to create power rather than tension, this makes the sport one of the more gentle martial arts.

Taijiquan practise has many health benefits, both for body and mind. In children, taijiquan has been shown to reduce problems such as hyperactivity and ADD through its relaxation and control techniques. Improvements are made to the cardiovascular health, and, as with any physical activity, a healthy weight is easier to achieve and maintain. Other benefits for children include improved sleep patterns and a decreased susceptibility to depression, anxiety and mental illness.

Taijiquan can be practiced by the young and old, and is an excellent family activity. Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to join a Taijiquan club for the good of your families health?

Read more about Asian Culture.

Bedwetting is an extremely common problem that many children face each night. In fact, about 15% of six-year olds wet the bed. This can continue into the pre-teen years.

No one knows what causes bedwetting. It carries with it a stigma; some people mistakenly believe that bedwetting is a symptom of some deep emotional distress. This is rarely ever the case. Bedwetting does seem to have a genetic factor, as children of former bedwetters are much more likely to wet the bed themselves.

This can be an embarassing and traumatic experience for a child, but it doesn’t have to be. Your child shouldn’t be made to feel that they are in trouble, or that you are disgusted with them, when they wet the bed. They really have no control over this action.

Instead, reinforce your love for your chid and speak positively to them about the day that they will grow out of their habit. It might make your child feel better to hear stories about relatives who outgrew their bedwetting. They should begin to understand that this is a normal part of growing up.

If your child is uncomfortable at sleepovers, don’t force them to go. It is not necessary (and is actually very disruptive) to wake your child during the night to urinate in the toilet. This will not stop the bedwetting, and will only result in a lack of sleep for all involved.