Bay Area Pediatric Pulmonary Medical Corporation - BAPP

A sleep study is the most formal way to determine is sleep is normal through the night so not. This test is described for you in the sleep lab section and a number of photographs take you through the usual process for a sleep study. Please see Sleep Study.

How can I help my baby sleep through the night?

Infants waken in the night to feed until they are about 11-12 pounds. At this weight they usually have sufficient body stores to go longer stretches without food. If your baby is big enough and is not sleeping through the night discuss it with your regular provider/doctor. Simple changes in your nighttime routine may help.

What does sleep hygiene mean?

Sleep hygiene refers to all the things you try to have happen surrounding bedtime. A sleep routine is very helpful to get the body acclimated to a schedule of events. The ASSM recommends that one should eat dinner a few hours before bedtime. A set bedtime and pattern that is always followed before going to sleep is always helpful. This could include brushing teeth, doing treatments or meds, having the dorm bedtime treat.

Sleep Disorder

Most think that adults wish they could sleep like a baby again. Many babies do seem to be able to fall asleep easily and stay asleep throughout the night, not disturbed by anything going on around them. Actually about 10% of children have trouble with sleeping like many adults. Sleep troubles come in all varieties for kids and adults and different types of sleep disorders are discussed below.

Apnea refers to the cessation of breathing. Breathing can stop for many reasons, but generally apnea is classified into three types: central, obstructive and mixed.

Central apnea – No breathing effort at all means the brain is not signaling and causing an effective breath to happen. This can be a congenital or acquired problem. Some babies are born without good control of breathing when asleep and this is often associated with a particular gene defect PHOX2b. CCHS or congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Acquired causes include tumors and surgeries that affect the breathing center in the brain.

Obstructive apnea – Effort is detected, but no airflow occurs. Obstruction to airflow is typically due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids in children. Congenital deformities of the jaw and face can also cause obstruction to airflow.

Mixed apnea includes components of both during a single apneic interval.

Parasomnia means that various behaviors are associated with sleep, like sleep walking, talking or other actions.