Buzz
Children twisting during sleep is a normal physiological phenomenon in infants. However, in some cases, it may be a sign of a medical condition such as calcium deficiency. So, how do you recognize the cause, and is it necessary to supplement calcium every time a child twists frequently? All these concerns will be fully addressed and detailed in the following article.
Phenomenon of children twisting during sleep
According to several studies, children twisting during sleep is a completely normal physiological reflex of the body. This behavior is present in most newborns from a few weeks old to 2 months. It often subsides when the child is 3 - 4 months old. The known cause is that the child is not yet accustomed to life outside the mother's womb. At this time, nerve cells are not yet differentiated, and the cerebral cortex and body muscles are not fully developed. Therefore, activities under the cortex prevail. Hence, children often exhibit movements, frequent limb movements, and twisting.
Children twisting during sleep is a normal phenomenon
Additionally, children twisting during sleep can also be due to various other reasons such as a firm mattress, uncomfortable sleeping environment, overly high pillow... However, if your child exhibits accompanying symptoms such as startles, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, vomiting, etc., then you need to pay attention. Because one of these symptoms may indicate that the child is deficient in calcium.
Reasons for children twisting during sleep
There are many reasons that can cause children to twist during sleep. They are mainly divided into 2 groups: physiological reasons and pathological reasons. Therefore, parents need to understand which reason is the real cause of this issue in their child. From there, find appropriate solutions, avoiding letting pathological causes affect the child's future health.
Physiological Causes
When children are still in their first few months of age, their brain cortex is not yet fully developed. This is considered a completely normal physiological factor and does not require any treatment. At this stage, children often exhibit reflexes such as startles, limb movements... Additionally, at this stage, your baby can hardly move by actions like rolling, crawling... So, the child moves their body by twisting.
There are some objective factors that may cause children to twist during sleep such as:
- Uncomfortable sleeping environment. You may be placing your baby in a room with too much light, extreme temperatures, or excessive noise. These factors can cause the child to have disrupted sleep, startle, and twist.
Children may twist when they are sad to defecate or hungry during sleep
- If the baby is hungry: Babies under 2 months old may have small stomach capacity. Therefore, their ability to store food is low and they often need to eat continuously. So, when sleeping, babies may easily get hungry and twist, fuss.
- When the baby is straining to urinate or defecate: When needing to urinate or defecate, babies often twist, turn red, and even cry.
- If the baby has issues with diapers: Wet diapers or tight wrapping can make babies uncomfortable and twist frequently.
The above causes are all physiological factors. Therefore, you only need to adjust according to each objective cause without excessive worry. If your baby remains healthy and gains weight properly, then this symptom is entirely normal and will typically resolve by the age of 2 - 3 months.
Pathological Causes
In addition to physiological factors, mothers still need to pay attention as sometimes it could be due to underlying medical causes. Medical reasons that can lead to infant twisting during sleep include:
- Child experiencing calcium deficiency: This is a common factor in premature babies, babies with mothers having poor nutrition, lack of exposure to sunlight... When calcium levels are low, the child may exhibit symptoms such as twisting, shallow sleep, frequent night crying, restlessness, night sweats, hair loss in a pattern, loss of appetite, slow growth, vomiting, regurgitation, delayed motor development.
Calcium deficiency causes children to twist during sleep, disrupts sleep
- Child experiencing gastroesophageal reflux: Due to the underdeveloped lower esophageal sphincter of the child, reflux is easy to occur. This is manifested by frequent regurgitation, spit-up... They can affect sleep, make the child uncomfortable, and lead to twisting.
- Other medical conditions: It could be due to the child being itchy from insect bites... causing discomfort and frequent twisting...
Some ways to deal with children twisting during sleep
- Change diapers, always keep clothes clean, dry, and comfortable
Choose diapers with high absorbency, providing comfort for the baby. Dress your baby in loose and warm sleepwear. Wash your baby's blankets and curtains regularly, keep the room clean so the baby doesn't feel itchy, uncomfortable.
- Comfort and soothe the baby every time they twist
Whenever the baby twists, you can hold them close and gently pat their back to make them feel more comfortable. You can sing lullabies, cuddle, or talk to the baby to reassure them and make them feel safe.
- Sunbathe regularly
Maintain cleanliness and hygiene for your baby to prevent skin diseases. Ensure regular sun exposure for your child to prevent vitamin D deficiency, and supplement with calcium if necessary.
Does a baby twisting in sleep need calcium supplementation?
As mentioned above, a baby twisting during sleep can be due to various reasons. Calcium deficiency is just one of them. Therefore, you need to accurately determine whether your baby's twisting is due to calcium deficiency or other reasons. If your child is already receiving sufficient calcium intake but you still supplement additionally, it may lead to excess calcium and can cause some health issues. Typical examples include constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and digestive disorders.
Signs indicating your beloved child may be lacking calcium
To accurately determine if your child is deficient in calcium, you can observe the following symptoms on your child's body. In addition to twisting during sleep, your child may frequently have shallow sleep, experience night sweats, hair loss around the temples, restlessness, and crying... For peace of mind and safety, it's best to take your child to a medical facility for examination and diagnosis. Identifying the exact cause will help parents take the most appropriate measures for their children. In cases where calcium supplementation is needed for the child, you should note that calcium will be supplemented according to age. Infants under 6 months old will need 300mg of calcium per day. And selecting the right calcium is extremely important. Because a child's digestive system is very sensitive, parents should choose a type of calcium that is friendly to the digestive system, easy to absorb, such as organic calcium. In addition, it's advisable to choose reputable, quality products with clear origins or consult pharmacists and doctors for advice.
Babies twisting during sleep is a very normal behavior for newborns. If the baby is still sleeping well, gaining weight, and functioning normally, parents don't need to worry too much. Not every time a child twists during sleep means parents need to supplement calcium. Therefore, to draw the most accurate conclusion about whether to supplement calcium for the child, parents should consider other symptoms on the body or take the child to see a doctor for examination.
>> Is it due to calcium deficiency if newborns twist and turn during sleep?
>> How to check for calcium deficiency in children
>> How many times a year should calcium be supplemented for babies?
>> Slow tooth growth in children - Should calcium be supplemented immediately?
>> What diseases does calcium deficiency cause in young children?
