My son is now 4, he has never been a great sleeper and has just recently started to sleep all night-much to our delight! However, since I can recall he has been very sweaty when he sleeps. It seems to be worse at naptime or in the first couple hours of sleep at night. We usually dress him lightly and sometimes just a pullup at night, but he still sweats. His pillow is usually soaked when I check on him. He has a ceiling fan in his room and we keep our house cool enough, he usually sleeps with just a sheet over him. Now that he has started pre-K he sweats during naptime and the first week or so they thought he had wet himself because he was soaked when he woke up. This embarrassed him and now he worries about it every day when he goes to school. He wears short sleeves to school and we got him a cotton blanket to go over his nap mat. Just wondering if anyone else had this issue and if you had tried anything that really worked. He is very healthy with no other unusual problems so I really had not thought too much about it until he started school. I will ask his doc at the next visit, if I remember! Thanks for reading.
If your son is drinking and urinating a lot in combination with the sweating it could be a sign of diabetes. If not, it could be that he simply has a higher core body temp. I would take him to the doctor just to put my mind at ease.
Merry Christmas!
A. :~D
R.- don't panic too much. My son also sweats alot when he sleeps and there is nothing wrong with him. He is 10 and it is getting less but... he still is very sweaty. As a baby and toodler he would wake up soaked!! Now he showers before school every morning. You should check with your doctor but I would assume he is fine. We never had nap time at school so I am not sure how to help him not being upset about this there. Sorry I can't help in that department. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone in having a sweaty kid when they wake up. My youngest daughter sweats alot too but not quite as much as my son. Hope this helps :)
R., It is probably just his core body temp. Both of my kids sweat a lot in their sleep so I've been down this road before. Neither my husband nor myself are sweaters so I was really concerned about this for sometime. There are many causes/diseases which cause excessive sweating. One is called Hyperhidrosis but it can also be a sign of diabetes. However, most likely it is just him. I would definitely have a diabetes test performed (and certainly talk it over with his pedi) just to be certain, but my bet is that it is just how his body works. Btw...I'm not sure if this is related but both of my kids have really fast metabolisms. They eat A LOT, they sweat a lot! ...and they "poo" a lot (gross but those are some ways of knowing).
Hi R.,
I wouldnt bring this up at the next Dr's visit. I would make an appointment with a Dr BECAUSE of this. A 4 year old sweating like this while sleeping is not normal. There is a huge array of disorders that sweating profusely (sp?) is a symptom. I'm not trying to sound like a whacko, but hearing this as an outsider, it seems alarming to me. Especially because you say there is so much sweat you mistook it for an accident. If he were running and playing out in the Texas heat would be one thing, but sleeping inside in the winter? Seek medical advice from a qualified professional.
Good Luck in finding your answer,
Margaret :)
Good advise from all. My granddaughter did the same thing and my daughter took her to the doctor to find out that he is just hot natured. She eventually stopped the sweating but still remain hot all the time when she is asleep. It will either get better with age or stop all together but that is probably just his temperature. I would still mention it to the doctor just to make sure nothing is wrong though. Good Luck.
You might also consider having thyroid levels checked.
My daughter does the same thing. She is always really sweaty the first 15 min - to the first hour after she falls asleep. Usually she will stop after a bit. I just dress her normally for bed. She has always run a little hot though. I also let her take a sippy cup of water to bed with her just in case. I had asked her doctor about it and he said it was okay and nothing to worry about. But IDK, it's a mom thing I guess to worry about that. I'd love to know what your doc says though!
Just as each of us has an individual temperament and personality, we each have our biological leanings. If this situation is disturbing his sleep or gives you additional work (laundry, etc.), you could locate a classic homeopathic doctor (an MD or OD) who could assess a simple single dose oral "remedy' for your son which could assist in regulating the sweating. Check out homeopathy on the web. I have used it successfully as a primary medical source for myself and child for over 25 years.
