Why is my child not sleeping? Help!

Parents often bring the child in to see a pediatric chiropractor to assist with sleeping difficulties.

‘The sleep button’ as most parents like to call it has failed, and the child is often up several times a night and will not nap during the day. This sleep regression is confusing to parents as well as exhausting. Pediatric chiropractors will look at several areas of the body to help sleuth out some of the sleep issues.

1. Sympathetic Dominance

Sleep is part of what we call the parasympathetic nervous system which helps us slow down, relax, digest food, reproduce and rest. The key to this parasympathetic part of the nervous system is the Vagus nerve, this nerve exits just below the base of the skull and upper neck area. Children, especially in the toddler and preschool years are learning to jump, run, fall and injure themselves on a daily basis. The falls they endure may cause what chiropractors call subluxations in the upper neck, or vertebral misalignments, which irritate or impinge the nervous system. Impingements on this Vagus nerve may lead to a decrease in the parasympathetic causing a surge of the sympathetic, the sympathetic are the go-go-go part of the nervous system, and hence the child does not sleep.

Balancing out the parasympathetic and sympathetic can significantly enhance your child’s sleep pattern.

2. Diet imbalance. Looking at your child’s diet, are they overeating processed high sugar foods, which will affect their sleep patterns. Food intolerances and allergies will also cause sleeping issues.

3. Parasites. Children eat everything in their world as they learn, develop and explore the world, in this exploration they may pick up a few bugs causing sleep disturbances, bowel changes, teeth grinding and nightmares and night terrors.

4. Trauma of different causes can cause sleep changes. Trauma can be a fall, emotional trauma, a virus or illness that can cause stress to a young developing nervous system. There can be a resurgence of certain reflexes that cause sympathetic dominance. These retained reflexes can be extinguished with specific chiropractic adjustments and exercises to help balance out your child’s brain. A complete exam can show any of these retained reflexes, and we can work with you and your child to help develop a proper sleeping pattern.

Dr. Joelle Johnson practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261 to book an appointment for your child today.