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Very
young children may not want to be separated from their parents at
night. Furthermore, they don't like being told what to do,
especially if it separates them from the "action" they feel is
going on at night without them.
As difficult as overtired children can be,
their parents can be just as irritable at the end of a long day.
Experts suggest that creating bedtime routines will help children get
settled and ready for sleep.
Infants
Newborn infants have irregular sleep cycles,
which take about six months to mature. As children get older, the
total number of hours they need for sleep decreases, however different
children have different needs. Here are some tips from the
American Academy of Pediatrics for helping both parents and babies sleep
better at night.
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Try to keep as calm and quiet as possible
when feeding or changing the baby during the night.
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Don't let the infant sleep as long during
the day. If she sleeps for large blocks of time during the
day, she will be more likely to sleep for short periods of time at
night.
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Put the
baby in the crib at the first signs of drowsiness. If you make a
habit of holding or rocking her until she falls asleep, she may learn to
need you to get back to sleep when she wakes up in the middle of the
night.
Toddlers and Preschoolers
Parents of toddlers learn that bedtime starts
long before it is time to say goodnight. A regular bedtime routine
is calming and comforting for a young child.
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Establishing a regular bedtime will help
both weary children and parents, even if the child insists that hi
is not "tired."
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A calm and quiet period before bed will
help the child get ready for sleep. Activates might include a
warm bath, reading, singing or just talking together in quiet voices
about the day. Active games or exciting television programs
may leave children unable to sleep. Whatever you are doing
before bedtime, remind the child that bedtime is next.
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Allow a toddler to take a favorite teddy
bear, toy or special blanket to bet each night. Make sure the
object is safe -- no loose ribbons, buttons or stuffing that can
cause choking.
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Make sure the child is comfortable.
Check the temperature of the room and that the child's clothing does
not restrict movement. The child may want a drink of water by
her bed, a nightlight on or the door slightly open.
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Be firm and clear about the extent of
bedtime rituals. A long, involved ritual (a kiss from every
single stuffed animal for instance), may allow the child to
manipulate the parent and gain control over the bedtime
process. Try not to return to the child's room every time he
complains or calls out. Your response time can be longer each
time to give your child the message that it is time to fall asleep.
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Some children try to
stretch things out by
coming out of their bedrooms and attempting to rejoin the rest of
the family. It helps to return the child calmly to her room
with a firm but gentle reminder that you have decided her day has
drawn to a close.
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Nightmares...
These scary dreams usually happen during the second
half of the night, when dreaming is most intense. After the
nightmare is over, the child may wake you and tell you what occurred.
Tips for handling nightmares:
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Go to the child as quickly as possible.
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Assure her that you are there and will not
let anything harm her.
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If your child is fearful, comfort and calm
her.
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Once the child is calm, encourage her to go
back to sleep.
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Keep in mind that a nightmare is real to a
young child. Listen to her and encourage her to tell you what
happened in the dream.
Night
Terrors...
These
are more severe or frightening than nightmares, but not as common.
They occur most often in toddlers and preschoolers. During a night
terror, children usually cannot be awakened or comforted. They may
have uncontrollable crying, sweating, shaking and/or a terrified and
confused appearance.
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The
child may not appear to recognize you and may try to push you
away. Some tips on handling night terrors:
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Remain
calm. Night terrors are usually more frightening for the
parent than for the child.
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Do
not try to wake the child.
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Make
sure the child does not injure himself. If the child tries to
get out of bed, gently restrain him.
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After
a short time, your child will probably relax and sleep quietly
again.
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If
your child has night terrors, be sure to explain to your
baby-sitters what they are and what to do. Night terrors do
not always indicate serious problems. Your child will be more
likely to have night terrors when he is overly tired and during
periods of stress. Try to keep the child on a regular sleep
schedule or increase the amount of sleep he gets.
Sleepwalking
and sleep talking...
Sleepwalking
and sleep talking happen when a child is in a deep sleep. While
sleepwalking, your child may have a blank, staring face.
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She
may not respond to others and be very difficult to awaken. When
she does wake up, she will probably not remember the episode.
Sleepwalking can be common and tends to run in families. It can
even occur several times in one night among older children and
teenagers. Tips for handling sleepwalking and sleep talking:
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Make
sure your child doesn't hurt herself while sleepwalking. Clear
the bedroom area of potential hazards.
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Lock
outside doors so your child cannot leave the house.
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Block
stairways so your child cannot go up or down.
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There
is no need to wake your child when she is sleepwalking or sleep
talking. Gently lead her back to bed and she will probably
settle down on her own.
Sleep
walking and sleep talking are more likely to occur when your child is
overly tired or under stress. Keeping your child's sleep schedule
regular may help prevent sleepwalking and sleep talking.
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Handling
your child's sleep problems may be a challenge and it normal to become
upset at times when a child keeps you awake at night. Try to be
understanding. A negative response by a parent may make a sleep
problem worse, especially if it is associated with a stressful
situation. If the problem persists, discuss the problem with your
pediatrician. |
