For weeks now I have noticed that my son does not sleep well, he moves non, stop all night, especially his legs, as if he were running in his dreams. At first, I thought it was normal, but every time I see him more tired during the day, irritable and without desire to play, I am worried that something is not right. I have read that it could be a syndrome of leg movements, and that scares me because I do not want anyone else to suffer. Has anyone else been through this with their child?
Oh wow, this sounds tough. I hope someone has some advice for you
Hey Britney, I totally get your concern. My son went through something similar around that age. He’d kick his legs all night and wake up super cranky and tired. I was worried too, but when I brought it up to his pediatrician, she said it might be growing pains or just part of his developmental stage. Kids can get really restless when they’re growing! I know it’s exhausting, but maybe check in with your doctor just to make sure everything’s okay. Hopefully, you’ll get some peace of mind!
You’re not alone in this. My daughter was the same way at that age. She’d move constantly at night, kicking her legs, and I noticed she wasn’t as playful during the day either. It really freaked me out. It was hard to see her so tired. We tried a few things like a bedtime routine, and eventually, she grew out of it around 3. I never figured out exactly what was going on, but it did pass, so hang in there!
I had a very similar experience with my son when he was about 2, and I was so worried about it, like you. He would wake up exhausted, and I just thought something had to be wrong. After talking to our pediatrician, she mentioned that some kids go through this “sleep disturbance” phase as their muscles and nerves develop. It could be that your little one is going through something like that, or it could be Restless Leg Syndrome, which can affect children. If you’re noticing it more often, maybe try tracking it, like how often it happens, how long it lasts, and whether it’s worse after certain activities. You could mention this at your next pediatric visit, and they may suggest ways to help him sleep better. A good routine and winding down before bed might help too. It sounds like a stressful situation, but with some trial and error, it should get better!
Ugh, sounds like your kid’s legs are in a marathon! Mine used to do the same thing, like he was running an ultramarathon while asleep. I’d wake up in the middle of the night to little legs flailing around. It’s honestly hilarious now looking back on it, but at the time I was losing my mind trying to figure out what was going on. No one warns you that sleep deprivation is like a whole new level of parenthood. My son grew out of it, but boy, did we have some sleepless nights
I get what you mean, Britney. My daughter went through something similar, and it was hard. She’d toss and turn, constantly moving her legs, and it was just awful seeing her so tired during the day. She would even be cranky and just sit around looking drained. I know it might sound silly, but what really helped for us was some calming bedtime rituals, we used lavender, scented lotion on her legs and did some gentle stretching before bed. Honestly, I thought it was just a shot in the dark, but she did seem to sleep a little better after we started that routine. If you feel comfortable with it, you could try it! Definitely check in with your pediatrician, but it might be something that passes as he grows. It gets better!
Hey Britney, I’ve been there. My son had restless nights like this around the same age, and I was worried it was something serious. What I found out after speaking with our doctor was that there is a condition called Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) that can affect children too. It can be triggered by things like a lack of iron or even certain sleep habits. I know it’s super unsettling to see your child struggle like this, but there are some things you can try. First, make sure his iron levels are good (you could ask your doctor to test for that). Also, having a consistent sleep routine is important. I know it can feel like you’re just treading water, but I promise it will pass eventually. My son’s sleep issues started to calm down once we got into a good rhythm, and he’s been sleeping better since. It’s worth a shot to chat with your pediatrician about all this and see if they have any suggestions
Oh Britney, I can relate so much! My daughter went through something very similar around 2 years old. It was like she was having “night races” in her sleep, just kicking and moving all over the place. It was tough for both of us, and like you, I started to worry that it was something more serious. It wasn’t until we went to a pediatric sleep specialist that we learned about Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). It’s different from Restless Legs Syndrome, but it can also cause similar movements at night. After doing some simple tests, we learned that my daughter’s case wasn’t severe, but we got some tips on how to handle it. We adjusted her bedtime routine, kept her room a bit cooler, and even gave her a warm bath before bed. Slowly, things got better, and she stopped moving so much at night. Definitely talk to your pediatrician and consider seeing a sleep specialist if you’re still concerned. Just know that you’re not alone, and it does get better with time!