Serving Patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids MIWho doesn’t love Halloween? The candy, the trick-or-treating, fall festivals, pumpkin carving, and more! The festivities can be enjoyed with friends or family, and even the littles can take part. But, getting enough sleep may be difficult for children with the late night Halloween adventures. Your sleep apnea doctors in Grand Rapids at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan want you to know how you can help your child stay well-rested this Halloween, and what to do if you still find that they are fatigued throughout the day.
Halloween festivities usually take place after dark, which means the celebration could easily last later than your kids’ normal bedtime. For starters, plan ahead and make sure that your child is well rested before Halloween. Avoid letting them stay up too late the night before a planned event. Also, if your child still takes naps, make sure they get one on the day of your planned activities.
The weather can be unpredictable for Halloween, but be sure that you are prepared and have under layers available for your child if it turns out to be chilly that night. You don’t want them catching a cold or getting sick, which could affect not just their sleep but yours too!
White noise machines can do wonders for lulling children to sleep, and adults, too. If you don’t already have one, consider adding one to their room for nighttime sleeping. It also comes in handy if you plan on hosting a party at your house where the kids will need to go to bed while the adults enjoy the festivities. The white noise machine can help drown out any sounds from the party.
It’s no shock that kids love candy. While a little bit is ok, having too much before bedtime could affect their sleep pattern. Also, you don’t want to hear any pitter-patters during the night while your child attempts to sneak extra candy when they should be sleeping. So, remove the temptation and put up the candy once your child has had their allotted amount.
If traditional trick-or-treating after dark is just too late for your child, consider alternatives such as trunk-or-treat events that typically are held during the daylight hours. Also, zoos, parks, malls, and shopping centers often hold trick-or-treating events during earlier hours to accommodate small children and their early bedtime.
This may seem obvious, but just remember that too much sugar will not be good for your child on many levels. Plus, as we already mentioned, it may affect their sleeping pattern if they consume too much too late. You know your child better than anyone, but usually, two to three pieces of candy aren’t going to throw off their sleep pattern if they consume it early enough in the day.
If your child ends up going to bed a little later than usual, don’t stress about it, it’s just one night! Just be sure to get back on their normal routine the next night and stick to that routine as much as possible. One night of fun aside, however, if you notice that your child seems not to be resting well at night, wets the bed frequently, or exhibits hyperactive behavior, he or she could be dealing with a sleep breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. If you believe this could be affecting your child, please contact TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan by calling (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.
TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan is here to serve patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids Michigan.
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