Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/84343
live with family Ask Doctor Mom Moon Over Monona Terrace It's raining, it's pouring...is your child snoring? By Dr. Kathryn Cahill Children's author Judy Blume once wrote, "Snoring keeps the monsters away." In your child's world, this might be true. But by day, is your child a little monster? If so, your child's snoring may be to blame, according to new guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children snore when the flow of air through the back of their mouths is partially blocked. Many children snore on occasion, and up to 10 percent snore every night. For some, snoring is accompanied by pauses in breathing, a condition called childhood obstructive sleep apnea that affects about one to five percent of children. Children who snore and experience sleep apnea may sleep for 10 hours a night, but their sleep is not restful, which can lead to significant health problems. Left untreated, childhood obstruc- Fall Family Favorites Saturday, October 13 Oak Bank's 12th Annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway Head to Oak Bank's Fitchburg location for pumpkin picking, kids' activities, horse and carriage rides and more, all to benefit local nonprofit Chrysalis. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Oak Bank, Fitchburg; oakbankonline.com. Friday, October 19 Moon Over Monona Terrace Star gazers young and old are invited to join the Madison Astronomical Society to view the moon and other celestial objects along- side free family friendly games and activities! 7-9:30 p.m. Monona Terrace, Madison; communityevents.mononaterrace.com. Friday, October 26 Downtown Madison Family Halloween Downtown Madison gets in the spooky spirit as kids 12 and under are invited for 24 BRAVA Magazine October 2012 Take in all autumn has to offer with these don't-miss events! mystical magic shows, cheerful musical performances, trick-or-treating, seasonal hayrides and more. 2-5 p.m. State Street and Capitol Square, Madison; visitdown- townmadison.com. Friday, October 26 Fall Fest at Aldo Leopold Celebrate the season in the great outdoors with a costume parade, haunted shack, treats and more at Aldo Leopold Nature Center. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona; naturenet.com/alnc. Sunday, October 28 Halloween at the Zoo Dress up in your wildest costume and delight including trick-or-treating—alongside the animals at the Henry Vilas Zoo. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison; vilaszoo.org. in family friendly activities— tive sleep apnea can put children at risk for high blood pressure, poor growth, inflammation in the body and cognitive problems. And after a night of poor sleep, these kiddos are more likely to be cranky, irritable, hyperac- tive and experience difficulties paying attention—hence, the little monsters! Indeed, studies report that apnea may contribute to attention deficit hyperac- tivity disorder. In recognition of the prevalence of childhood obstructive sleep apnea and its health and behavioral effects, the AAP recently published recommenda- tions for children who may have apnea. The new guidelines encourage pediatri- cians to screen all children for snoring and ask about symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. If symptoms are present, pediatricians are encouraged to further evaluate and treat snoring. As parents know, getting children into bed at night can be exhausting. Once the kids are finally asleep, it should be time to relax! (Or, more likely, time to wash the dishes, make lunches, and start a load of laundry.) But if your quiet time is regularly disrupted by a little lumberjack sawing logs in the next room, it may be time to talk with your child's pediatrician. Dr. Cahill is a pediatrician at the Meriter Medical Group's West Washington Clinic and a mother of three.