Sleeping problems can affect a child’s development, with CHEO’s pediatric sleep lab one of the few places in Canada equipped to address that.

Abby Chadwick, age five, used to give middle-aged men a run for their money with her snoring.

“We noticed she was breathing through her mouth more, to the point we could hear her throughout the house during the daytime,” said her mother Corissa Chadwick.

When it started getting worse, her mother said they went to CHEO’s pediatric sleep lab where she was diagnosed with a blockage called “obstructive sleep apnea.”

“There were periods of time when she was stopping breathing during the course of the night,” said Dr. Sherri Katz, director of the sleep lab.

“Her body was telling her to breathe and trying to make an effort, but because her airway was blocked she wasn’t able to get air into her lungs.”

Abby had her tonsils and adenoids removed because that kind of sleep apnea can cause problems focusing, high blood pressure and strain the heart.

Corissa said after the procedure, her daughter’s snoring stopped and her body started to respond to the oxygen.

“After she had her tonsils and adenoids removed, she’s grown two and a half inches since August and gained six pounds,” she said.

Children five to ten years old need a minimum of ten hours of sleep per night for proper development, while teenagers need at least eight and a half.

“We know short sleepers eat more and move less as a result of tiredness and a lack of sleep,” said CHEO’s Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput.

“We know that watching TV, using a laptop, using cellphones before going to bed will impact your sleep quality.”

Doctors say that a lack of quality sleep can lead to problems such as diabetes, weight gain and even some forms of cancer down the road – issues that CHEO is trying to address.

Their tips for better sleep include:

  • Reserve your bedroom for sleeping only – keep computers, televisions and video games out of the bedroom.
  • Exercise regularly during the day or at least three hours prior to sleep.
  • Don’t go to bed feeling hungry, but don’t eat a heavy meal right before bed.
  • Make sure your bedroom is conducive to sleep (dark, quiet, comfortable and cool).
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (even on weekends).

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr

This article is part of CTV Ottawa and CHEO's Healthy Kids series, airing every Wednesday and inspiring a series of awards.