Can children take sleeping pills if they have trouble sleeping?

Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) is not only experienced by adults, it can also be experienced by children. This condition generally occurs in children who enter school age. As a result, he will lack sleep and this will affect his activities and achievements at school. To overcome this, you may be wondering, can children be given sleeping pills? Find out the answer below.

Is it safe for children to take sleeping pills when they have trouble sleeping?

There are children who sleep easily, some are not. Children who have trouble sleeping certainly make parents worry. The reason is, insomnia causes the child to be sleepy during the day and wake up with a weak body. In the long run, this condition can worsen his health.

There are many ways that can be taken to overcome insomnia, one of which is taking medication. This method is practical, but if it happens to children, can it be done?

Sleeping pills are medications that can cause drowsiness and prolong sleep. This drug is available over the counter at drugstores as well as a prescription from a doctor.

Although it is quite effective in dealing with insomnia, according to the American Academy of Sleeping Medicine, sleeping pills should not be given to children. The reason is because sleeping pills are not made for children and there is a risk of causing side effects.

Side effects vary, the most likely to occur is an overdose (overdose). The reason is, doctors must adjust the dose for adults to suit the child's weight.

Children who take sleeping pills are also at risk of developing facial swelling the next morning or sleep apnea (temporary loss of breath while sleeping).

Do this instead of being given sleeping pills

Giving sleeping pills to children is not a solution to the problem of insomnia in children. Even if given, the doctor will consider the effectiveness of the drug and possible side effects. The doctor will adjust the treatment to the underlying cause of the sleep disturbance in children.

If insomnia is caused by allergies, colds, or asthma that makes it difficult for your little one to breathe comfortably while sleeping, the doctor will give you an antihistamine. This medication works to reduce symptoms and put the child to sleep.

Instead of taking sleeping pills for which the safety of the child is not clear, parents are better off coping with this with non-drug treatments, such as:

1. Change the child's bedtime earlier

If your little one has trouble sleeping, don't let him sleep late at night. It would be better if you advance the hours of sleep so that the child is less likely to sleep too late.

If your little one usually sleeps at 10 p.m., advance to nine. After changing sleep hours, do this regularly to get used to it.

2. Help the child to sleep more comfortably

Children who have trouble sleeping can be caused by fear, anxiety, and noise. Take it easy, you can reduce all of these disorders without the need for children to take sleeping pills in several ways, namely:

Make sure the child's bedroom is dim, room temperature is right, and it's clean
Turn off the TV or anything that makes noise around the child's room.
Calm the child with soft words, give him a sense of security through hugs and strokes on the head
Make sure he has taken the medicine prescribed by the doctor if his condition is not healthy

If these two methods do not show effective results, do further consultation with a doctor. The doctor may recommend therapy to make your child sleep better.