Restless Legs Syndrome

Pediatric Sleep Center Offers Innovation and Expertise in Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment in Children

University Hospitals Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital is a leader in child-friendly sleep studies, diagnosis and treatment. Our Pediatric Sleep Center treats common and complex sleep cases such as restless legs syndrome in infants, children and teens.

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms

Restless legs syndrome is a common sleep problem among children and teenagers. Also referred to as growing pains, restless legs syndrome causes children to have uncomfortable feelings in their legs or leg jerks during sleep.

Some children with restless legs syndrome have a hard time falling asleep at night because of constant urges to move their legs. Even during sleep, their legs may move or jerk, causing the child to awaken.

Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment

Pediatric sleep medicine specialists at UH Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital understand restless legs syndrome — the symptoms, the diagnosis and the treatment. Because this sleep disorder can interfere with getting enough quality sleep, the sleep expert may first do a physical examination and take a family medical history.

Iron deficiency or low iron stores can cause restless legs syndrome, but sometimes restless legs syndrome runs in families and can be attributed to genetics. Careful assessment and diagnosis of each individual case allows our expert physicians to prescribe individual treatment plans for restless legs syndrome based on the outcome of each child's assessment. Treatment may include getting regular exercise and plenty of sleep for mild restless legs syndrome to other medications to help control a stronger urge to move the legs during sleep