My son is over one year old, and he doesn't sleep soundly; he often startles. Could this be due to a nutritional deficiency causing his sleep disorder?

My son is over one year old, and he doesn't sleep soundly; he startles easily. Some nights he wakes up to five times. He's also a very picky eater. Could this be due to a nutritional deficiency causing his sleep disorder? I also had trouble sleeping during my pregnancy.

(Le Thi Yen, Kon Tum, Email:[email protected])

Regarding the child's conditionpoor sleepThis is a common condition in children aged 1-3 years old due to the brain's functional and structural development. Therefore, you'll see that your child sleeps very irregularly, without a fixed schedule, and often doesn't sleep well at night. There's no other way than to patiently care for and soothe your child to sleep. You should also pay attention to the environment around your child's bedroom, ensuring it's well-ventilated and quiet. If your child wakes up at night continuously for two weeks or more, they may be deficient in micronutrients. Two commonly deficient micronutrients are vitamin D and zinc.

Regarding a child's physical development, a one-year-old child will weigh three times their birth weight. If your child is a picky eater, this is common in children aged 1-5 years. This is due to psychological changes, a love of play, and an developing digestive system, causing them to not eat much. If your child frequently vomits, you should feed them after each episode to compensate for the lost energy. You should supplement their diet with milk, smoothies, and extra snacks. If possible, you should take your child to a pediatric nutritionist for a more thorough examination and consultation.

According to Health & Life - nt