How Much Restless Sleep Is Normal?

Every child needs a lot of quality sleep! Not only does deep sleep ensure that your child won’t be cranky and tired the next day, but it also allows your child to grow to their maximum potential. Sleep plays a big role both in biological development and mental progress.

So, it’s no wonder many parents worry if their child starts to suffer from restless sleep! However, some amount of restless sleep is normal, making it difficult to tell whether a child really needs help sleeping or should be left alone.

Dr. Nelli Gluzman of Blossom Pediatrics says, “As a physician, I think it’s key for patients to be informed about sleep and possible remedies to help with restlessness. While fixing your child’s sleep is a multi-pronged approach, Sleepology can be a great part of that multi-factored approach.”

This guide can answer all the questions you have about restless sleep, plus go over how you can tell whether your child needs help reaching deep sleep. Let’s dive in!

What is Restless Sleep?

It’s tough to nail down an exact definition for restless sleep. Indeed, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine doesn’t classify restless sleep overall as a sleep disorder, so it’s somewhat subjective.

However, most parents and kids who have to deal with restless sleep would characterize it as any sleep session where the sleeper can’t go deeper into a sleep cycle.

When we sleep, our bodies naturally phase through 90-minute cycles of light or REM sleep and deeper sleep. Both cycles are necessary for our bodies to regenerate and for our brains to get all the benefits of sleep.

Parents who check in on their kids during the night can probably notice when their child has a lot of restless sleep. Their kids:

• Might toss and turn regularly
• Might have difficulty waking up or, when they do wake up, will still be sleepy throughout the day
• Might complain of chaotic or bad dreams

Most kids who experience restless sleep regularly can’t go into deeper sleep cycles as easily as they should be able to. This can cause a number of issues later down the road. However, it’s also important to know that some amount of restless sleep is alright.

Causes of Restless Sleep

Regular or excessive restless sleep can be caused by all kinds of issues, including:

• Stress and anxiety. If your child can’t calm down, they might have difficulty falling into deep sleep. Kids can experience stress and anxiety from many sources, including school, their home life, or something scary they saw during the day.
• Stimulants like caffeine can also keep kids up regularly. It’s important to avoid giving your child stimulants regularly, especially anytime before bed as early as the afternoons.
• Sometimes kids suffer from mild health problems, making sleep difficult to achieve. For instance, if they were injured during a play session, their discomfort could make sleep tough. Or if your child is having trouble keeping control of their bladder, they might feel stressed about wetting the bed and not fall asleep as a result.

Kids thrive on routine, and this includes routines for bedtime! But if they don’t have a regular bedtime, they might have trouble falling into deep sleep.

As you can see, restless sleep can come out of anywhere, so don’t feel too bad if your child is having difficulty sleeping.

How Much Restless Sleep is “Normal?”

As mentioned, some amount of restless sleep is normal. Restless sleep allows us to fall back into a deeper slumber but still shift our position around, keeping us comfortable throughout the night. It also allows us to cycle into rapid eye movement or REM sleep, which is the phase of sleep where we experience dreams.

Your child should experience a tiny amount of restless sleep anywhere between 10-30 times per night! That sounds like a lot, but each restless period should only be a few seconds or so. Most people wake up that many times each night but don’t remember it because the restless periods are so brief.

How To Tell If Your Child Needs Help Sleeping

It’s natural for parents to worry about the quality of their children’s sleep. There are multiple ways you can tell if your child needs help sleeping or if they are experiencing restless sleep normally.

For starters, pay attention to how your child acts during the day. If they have difficulty waking up at reasonable times – such as when the sun is shining or after a full night’s sleep – they might not have gotten enough sleep the night before. Similarly, if they have trouble paying attention and yawn regularly, they might not be getting enough deep sleep.

You should ask your child if they have trouble falling asleep if you can’t watch them rest. They might be able to tell you if they spend a lot of time semi-awake or lying in bed. Kids don’t always get out of bed when they can’t sleep, especially if they are tired and want to rest.

Ways To Boost Restful Sleep in Your Child

While kids might experience too much restful sleep for all kinds of reasons, there are also several ways you can help them get a good night’s rest.

One excellent solution is Genexa’s Sleepology: a clean medicine that’s designed to promote deep and restful sleep for your children.

This simple clean medicine formula uses a few key ingredients that can help decrease restless sleep and promote deep sleep. These ingredients include chamomile, which can help with the inability to fall asleep, and Calcarea phosphorica, which lowers the likelihood of your child waking up frequently throughout the night.

All in all, it’s a quality remedy that’s perfect if your child is having difficulty falling asleep because of non-controllable factors.

You can also incorporate certain practices or habits to make sleep a little easier for your child. These include:

• Set a regular bedtime and stick to it every night. Kids' bodies need routines to grow, and healthy habits help their minds predict the course of each day. A regular bedtime will help their minds settle down when it's almost time for sleep.
• Give your child a glass of warm milk or water to settle their stomachs and prevent them from feeling hungry or uncomfortable as they sleep.
• Make sure that your child’s bedroom is comfortable and at an appropriate temperature. Bedrooms should be slightly cool rather than warm.
• Consider talking to your child and asking if there is anything on their mind they want to discuss. Kids have anxieties and worries just like adults. Sometimes they benefit from getting things off their chest before they lie down for the night.
• Lastly, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician if your child still struggles with regular sleeplessness or restless sleep -- getting in touch with your family doc is never a bad idea.

Summary

Restless sleep is a normal part of a healthy sleep cycle, but too much of it can cause your child to be tired during the day, which can limit their growth and lead to health issues down the road.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to look into solutions for restless sleep, including clean, natural remedies from Genexa paired with healthy bedtime habits.

If you have questions about Genexa’s Sleepology medicine or any of their other clean medicine options for kids and adults alike, don’t hesitate to contact them – their number is on every bottle!