A potentially dangerous sleep disorder, sleep apnea is capable of affecting children and toddlers too, apart from adults. Individuals affected by this condition have trouble breathing while sleeping as it constantly starts and stops. Therefore it is crucial for parents and caregivers to constantly monitor children suffering from sleep apnea whenever they nap during the day and more so at night.

Almost 10% to 20% of children who snore are likely to suffer from sleep apnea, as reported by the John Hopkins hospital. Children with this condition could experience adaptive, learning, and behavioral issues if it is left untreated.

Some of the symptoms noticed in children suffering from this condition are similar to that of ADHD. The signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are as follows:

• Reduced attention span towards various activities
• Decreased performance at school
• Difficulty in learning new things

The warning signs which elders should look out for in their children are as follows:

• Children who snore could be affected by sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the most important symptoms that should be observed and taken seriously.
• As this condition regularly causes an interruption in breathing, one should look for moments where the child feels pauses in breathing during sleep.
• While the child is sleeping and even when the child is awake, if they are constantly feeling the need to breathe through his/her mouth, then this can be a sign of sleep apnea.
• As sleep apnea interrupts sleep through the night, the child may experience intense daytime sleepiness.
• Bedwetting is another common symptom for children suffering from sleep apnea.

Toddlers can also be prone to sleep apnea. In the case that you worry about your child experiencing a sleep disorder, then these are the signs to look out for in the toddler:

• If the toddler experiences difficulty in breathing and snores repeatedly in his/her sleep, then they could be suffering from this condition.
• Restlessness caused by the lack of sleep or constant interruption in sleep could be a sign of this condition’s presence in toddlers.
• Choking or coughing constantly.
• A toddler suffering from sleep apnea could sweat profusely, which is another symptom to look out for.
• Repeated pauses in the toddler’s breathing.

Toddlers suffering from sleep apnea also show signs and symptoms of the condition when they are awake. Some common symptoms to look out for are:

• Falling asleep at random timings due to lack of sleep during the night time.
• Health problems related to the adenoids or tonsils can arise in toddlers suffering from sleep apnea.
• The height and weight increase in toddlers with sleep apnea will be at a relatively slower rate when compared to that of a healthy toddler.
• The toddler could experience a lot of frustration and crankiness due to the condition.

Given the serious consequences of the condition, it is of absolute importance to take the child/toddler to a doctor as soon as any of the above symptoms are noticed.