Sleep Problems
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Lack of sleep is one of the main reasons parents seek help
from health visitors and doctors in the early years. Here
we look at the most common sleep problems children suffer
and how to resolve them so you can get a good night's sleep.
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Hush little baby
It's estimated that a quarter of young children have
severe sleep problems. Some are there from the beginning,
while others only occur at certain times; with teething,
for example, or after an illness.
Research suggests that:
* Difficulty settling to sleep is present in 22 per cent
of nine-month-olds, 15 to 20 per cent of one-totwo-year-
olds and 16 per cent of children aged three and above.
* Frequent night waking is a problem for 42 per cent of
nine-months-olds, 20 to 26 per cent of one-to-two-year-
olds and 14 per cent of children aged three and above.
Almost all babies have erratic sleep patterns to begin
with, which most parents expect, but in the latter half of
the first year new problems can occur. For example, night
waking occurs in 50 per cent of children who'd previously
been sleeping through.
Average sleep needs
12 months - 13.5 hours
Two years - 13 hours
Three years - 12 hours
Five years - 11 hours
Remember, these are only averages. Individual children may
show considerable variations.
Common sleep problems
Here are tips on coping with some of the most common
sleeping problems children have.
Difficulty settling at night:
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* Create a simple and familiar routine for bedtime. For
example: feed, bath, bed.
* Allow toddlers time to settle. If they make a fuss,
don't go back in immediately, but don't leave them so
long they get very distressed.
* Keep things quiet. This might help him settle and teach
him that night is different from day.
* Alternatively, keep natural house noises going. Some
children are happier if they can hear household noises
and know you're nearby.
* Make sure your child winds down before bed. This will
make the transition from lively toddler to sleeping
child easier.
* If your toddler keeps getting up after you've put him to
bed, you need to be firm and take him back again. It may
take time, but eventually he'll get the message.
Waking too early:
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* Use thick blinds or curtains to make your child's room
darker so the morning light doesn't shine in.
* Provide safe toys for him to play with in the mornings,
so he can play quietly until he hears that the rest of
the family is awake.
* If your child's a natural early riser, you may just have
to be patient. Usually, once children start nursery or
school, they tend to sleep in for longer.
Waking in the night:
--------------------
* Be realistic and remember that everyone's sleep needs
and patterns vary. Some people need eight hours or more,
others can manage on five or six. This creates a
different picture of what 'sleeping through' means, even
in one family.
* Many toddlers continue to wake at night for feeds. If
you'd like to stop this, cut down night feeds by
gradually replacing milk with water.
* If you've always rocked, stroked or sung your child to
sleep when he first goes to bed, he may find it
difficult to get back to sleep on his own if he wakes in
the night. When you go in to comfort him, keep the
lights low and use a soft voice. Don't encourage play.
You'll probably need to do this several times.
Never seems to be tired:
------------------------
* A predictable daily routine can help to encourage sleep
at the appropriate time.
* Don't let your toddler get overexcited before bedtime -
and don't forget to have a winding-down period.
* If your child really doesn't seem tired, put him to bed
but leave him toys or books to play with.
* Cut out daytime naps, especially in the afternoon. But
don't force this if your toddler really needs a nap.
* Try to tire out your child with lots of enjoyable
daytime physical activities.
* Move your child's bedtime back 15 minutes at a time
until it suits you.
Monsters in the closet:
-----------------------
* Being frightened to go to bed or refusing to let you
leave the room can be a sign of insecurity. Try to think
what the cause might be - such as the arrival of a new
baby, starting nursery or hearing a row - and work out
how to reduce the anxiety.
* Never laugh at or deny your toddler's fears.
* Stick to a recognisable routine that lets your child
know bedtime's coming.
* Provide a night light if your child doesn't like the
dark.
* If your child seems scared of being left alone, promise
to come back and check on him every five or ten minutes
until he's dropped off. He may relax knowing you'll be
back.
* Move around where you can still be heard for a while
after your child goes to bed. Sort clothes in the next
room, for example.
* Play soothing background music for your child to listen
to.
* Leave safe, favourite soft toys in your child's bed for
company.
* Make sure your child has his favourite comforter - a
dummy, cloth or toy perhaps.
* Never use your child's bedroom as a place to send him as
a punishment. This can make it a frightening rather than
comfortable place for him.
* Suggest pleasant ideas to dream about, such as visiting
to the beach at the weekend.
* Give him lots of loving attention during the day so he
feels safe and secure.
When nothing works
If you're despairing at your child's sleep routine (or lack
of it) it might be time to get help from your health
visitor or doctor. Methods used include controlled crying
and gradual withdrawal, and have a 70 to 90 per cent
success rate.
Your health visitor is the best person to explain ways of
managing sleep behaviour.
Source:
bbc.co.uk > Parenting > Toddlers and pre school
URL: http://tinyurl.com/6p24h
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