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8 Year Old With Trouble Sleeping - Family History of Sleep Apnea

by Kristina
(Cooper City, FL)

For the last few months my 8 year old has had difficulty falling asleep. I will allow him to stay up and read for a little bit past his bedtime (we say 8:30, but usually ends up being closer to 9).


Recently, he has been waking up with headaches and last night he said he had a nightmare. I feel like this is stress-related. I cannot get my son to open up to me about his nightmares. He has never told me about a single one. I try to explain to him that they are not real, but they are normal to have. I have told him about some of my nightmares and how I have learned how to recognize and control some of my reoccurring dreams.

How do I get him to open up? I worry because big changes are just around the corner for him. My husband and I are getting a divorce. The kids do not know anything. We are still living together and do not fight/argue with the kids in the house.

We were planning on asking a counselor for advice on how to tell the kids.

Oh, on the sleep issues, my husband has sleep apnea, his father had sleep apnea. CPAP's are a generational thing in his family!! My husband wasn't tested for sleep apnea until he was in his 30s. Should we have our children tested?

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