Why do children toss and turn in their sleep?

If a child tosses and turns in his sleep, it may be caused by restless sleep. The quality of a child’s sleep has a great impact on his or her health and development. If a child does not sleep well, his or her physical health and mental state will naturally be poor. So, what are the specific reasons that cause children to have restless sleep? The following will give you a detailed introduction.

1. Physiological factors

Because the nervous system of infants and young children is not yet fully developed, the excitation and inhibition functions of the nerves are not coordinated enough, and they are easily excited. Any slight external stimulation may cause excitement of the nervous system and cause the baby to wake up. This is a normal physiological phenomenon. As the baby grows up, the function of the nervous system gradually improves, and this physiological phenomenon will naturally disappear.

2. Overeating

As the saying goes: "If the stomach is not in good condition, you cannot sleep well." Some mothers always give their children snacks before bedtime regardless of whether their children are hungry or not, which makes the babies feel uncomfortable and affects their sleep quality. Especially for breastfeeding babies, some mothers are accustomed to breastfeeding and accompanying their babies to sleep. As a result, the children eat too much milk while sleeping, have abdominal distension and wake up easily. After waking up, the mother immediately comforts them with milk, resulting in a vicious circle.

3. Disease factors

Intestinal parasites are the most common cause of restless sleep in young children. For example, parasitic diseases can cause indigestion and malnutrition in children, and they may also develop symptoms such as anemia and irritability. Children with early rickets also often sleep and wake up easily.

4. Environmental factors

When the baby is sleeping, if the light in the room is too strong, or if family members are watching TV or talking and laughing loudly, it will disturb his normal sleep and make him wake up easily. The baby is prone to kicking the quilt at night, or the quilt is too thick and heavy, which will cause the child to be too cold or too hot when sleeping, causing him to be irritable and restless, and move his hands and feet around. This is also a common reason for waking up easily during sleep.

5. Stomach bloating

[Explanation of the condition] Babies may sometimes experience abdominal distension between meals, and the frequency varies from baby to baby.

[Solution] Pat your baby's back to relieve gas, or apply some anti-flatulence ointment containing peppermint oil for infants and young children, and your baby will feel more comfortable. If your baby often suffers from bloating, parents should consider switching to another formula, or breastfeeding mothers should eat less gas-producing foods (such as beans, soy milk, and sweet potatoes). As for which formula milk to change to, new parents are advised to discuss it with professional pediatricians.