Yeditepe University Hospitals Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Zahmancıoğlu says that there are more sleep problems in children from big cities and states that "the more calm, serene, and loving the parents are, the more positively the baby is affected and the more comfortable sleep they have."

What Causes Sleep Problems in Babies?

First of all, sleep is very closely related to mental state. Sleep is a physiological process that has an important psychological aspect. For example, in psychiatric disorders, the first symptoms may occur during the sleep process. In fact, we can roughly say that being able to sleep well is a sign of being healthy. In Turkish, it is commonly said "they do not have any troubles, they sleep soundly". Apart from that, many medical diseases disrupt sleep function. When a child or adolescent presents with sleep complaints, a detailed history should be obtained, and a physical examination should be performed.

Genetic characteristics are also very decisive. If there is a sleep problem in parents or relatives, children can be prone to sleep problems as well.

What tests do you do for children with sleep problems?

If we conclude that the problem is related to the psychological framework after taking a detailed history and performing a physical examination, we first look at the child's eating, drinking, and other daily physical needs to assess their quality and adequacy. Toilet and physical care are also important indicators of development. In addition to these, we also start analyzing behavioral patterns around sleep functions, such as where the child sleeps at home, with whom they sleep, whether they sleep while being rocked, whether they sleep alone, whether they want a night light, etc. We do this in order to understand the qualities of the spiritual bond between parent and child.

What do you recommend to parents of children with sleep problems?

If mothers and fathers are peaceful, cheerful, satisfied with their condition, and not experiencing any mental problems, it is known that children can more easily achieve the physical state required for sleep, such as relaxation and letting go. Especially in the children of parents in big cities, such problems are more common. Working mothers who strive to raise their baby in a healthy way, become an ideal partner, and at the same time, fathers who are constantly running to earn money and pay debts, their stress inevitably affects their children as well. So, parents who have a lot of financial and emotional problems on their minds, neither themselves nor their children can sleep well at night. There is a contagious sense of restlessness within the home. For these reasons, we try to ensure that parents first calm themselves down and get away from stress.

Then we want them to get their relationship with the child as straightened out as possible. For example, is there a child who does not enjoy sleeping with his parents? In some cases, parents need to take the initiative. We give assignments to parents and children to make necessary changes and adjustments in daily life. We encourage them to change by listing the benefits they will gain. We explain that the function of parenthood needs to be constantly revised as the child grows and develops. We remind you that baby and childcare are separate situations. For example, when telling a baby who wants to be constantly rocked, 'No, you are no longer old enough to be rocked,' we explain that the child may react to this, but there are ways to cope with it. All these are measures that will increase the child's competence in basic physiological functions such as sleep in the long term.