Why does a child sweat on his head when sleeping?

We all know that children are naturally lively and active, and sweating is also a common symptom in children. However, many parents will find that their children also sweat when they sleep, which often makes parents particularly worried. They don’t know whether the child has a health problem or a lack of trace elements in the body. If such a problem occurs, we must grasp the cause and make timely adjustments. Let’s understand why children sweat on their heads when they sleep.

Why does a child sweat on his head when sleeping?

It is common for babies to sweat during sleep, and it is not always a symptom of weakness or illness. Many parents believe that their children’s constant sweating is due to their weak constitution. In fact, a considerable number of children suffer from physiological hyperhidrosis. Physiological hyperhidrosis is more common in the head and neck, often occurring within half an hour after falling asleep, and sweating stops in about an hour.

Infants and young children have an active metabolism and are active and lively. Some of them cannot rest even after going to bed at night, so they may sweat on their heads after falling asleep. The so-called physiological hyperhidrosis refers to sweating during sleep when the child is well-developed, healthy, and has no disease. Parents are often accustomed to deciding the best environmental temperature for their children based on their own subjective feelings, and like to cover their babies with more blankets and keep them tightly covered. Because children's brain and nervous system are not yet fully developed and they are in the growth and development period, their body metabolism is very active. Coupled with the stimulation of overheating, they can only regulate normal body temperature by sweating to evaporate the heat in the body.

Some active children exercise a lot during the day and generate a lot of heat. The body is unable to dissipate the excess heat through sweating, so the heat accumulates in the baby's body, and the baby's body temperature can reach around 38°C at night. After the baby falls asleep, the heat generated decreases, the sensitivity of the sympathetic nerves decreases, and the body dissipates excess heat through sweating to maintain normal body temperature.

In addition, drinking milk, malted milk or eating chocolate before going to bed can also cause sweating in children. Some parents give their children milk, malted milk, etc. before they go to sleep. After the child falls asleep, the body produces a large amount of heat, which is mainly dissipated through sweating through the skin. In addition, too high room temperature or excessive warmth can also cause children to sweat while sleeping, which are all physiological sweating.

The weather is hot and stuffy in summer and the bedroom is poorly ventilated, so babies are more likely to sweat. This type of sweating is called "physiological sweating" in medicine. It usually occurs in the first half of the night when you just fall asleep, and the sweat gradually disappears after deep sleep. Parents do not need to worry too much about physiological sweating. This is just a physiological phenomenon during the baby's growth process. As the baby grows older, this phenomenon will gradually decrease.

The above is an introduction to why children sweat on their heads when they sleep. After understanding it, we know that there are many reasons for this phenomenon. First of all, parents should understand whether the child is wearing too many clothes or the quilt is too thick. On the other hand, if the child lacks trace elements, do not blindly give the child medicine to supplement. Be sure to go to the hospital for examination and supplement the trace elements under the guidance of the doctor. In addition, children must be allowed to exercise outdoors more in daily life, so as to improve their body's immunity.