subject: Monitoring Sleep Apnea In Babies - A Parent's Guide [print this page] Most people experience pauses in breathing once in a while. It doesn't just happen to adults but to children as well. This breathing pattern is referred to as apnea. Even though this is completely normal to many, it may also be related to some health conditions that ought to be a cause for worry especially when it happens to your child. Being in this kind of situation, you may choose to use sleep apnea monitors for babies..
The Different Types of Apneas
The word apnea has its origin from the Greek term which means "without wind". It is the medical term used to explain the occasional cessation of breathing that a person may experience. Even while it is typical, it might also be a symptom of something much more significant that is health related.
Basically there are three kinds of apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive apnea is the most frequent in babies and children. It is induced by obstructions in the airway such as adenoids and enlarged tonsils. This is very dangerous especially for babies considering it ordinarily happens during sleep time. And as infants, they still cannot articulate whether or not they are already suffering from symptoms of the condition.
Signs of this type of apnea include snoring, labored breathing, gasping for air, and changes in skin color. However the cardinal sign of obstructive apnea in babies is restlessness. and trouble sleeping.
Another kind of apnea is central apnea. This is typically triggered by a defect in the section of the brain that controls breathing. In babies, this could be a congenital problem. Central apnea is extremely rare in adults but quite common in babies especially those who were born prematurely. Unlike obstructive apnea, this type can happen at any moment of the day.
The third type of apnea is called mixed apnea. This condition is the combination of obstructive apnea and central apnea. This type is especially common in babies. It can also occur any time, whether or not the baby is awake or asleep.
What To Do If You Think Your Baby Has Apnea
When your child is born, he or she is routinely examined for any problems in health like disorders in breathing. But this is just a initial evaluation which can change in the next couple of months. The first step is to have your child examined by his or her doctor. If apnea is diagnosed, the doctor can suggest different ways to help you keep an eye on on your baby one of which is by using a baby sleep apnea monitor.
What to Look for In Baby Sleep Apnea Monitors
There are many different baby sleep apnea monitors each with different features. In selecting a baby sleep apnea monitor, there are specific features that the device should have to ensure the proper monitoring of your baby.
Heart Beat Monitor
This feature is a must for the device that you will choose considering no apnea monitor is 100 percent accurate in detecting cessation of breathing. This will serve as a backup in the event the apnea monitor fails to identify apnea because it will also show itself in the heart rate of the child.
Another must have feature is a remote alarm. Even if you are not in the same area with the infant, a remote monitor will alert you if anything goes wrong. It should also have a power loss alarm. This is used when the devices are low in power. Last but not the least, the unit must also be set up with an AC power adapter for recharging and powering the unit.
Monitoring Sleep Apnea In Babies - A Parent's Guide
