What are sleeping problems?
Sleep problems occur when your child has difficulty settling down to sleep. It can also include small episodes of sleep or sleep interruptions. The constant night interruption can lead to baby irritation and parental fatigue. When your baby has trouble sleeping, it can be a hard time for the entire family. You can make bedtime less problematic and more enjoyable by learning some healthy sleeping tips.
Healthy sleeping patterns
Your doctor may advise you of the average number of hours of sleep your child needs. Still, every child’s sleeping patterns are different. On average, newborns up to 6 months of age sleep 16 hours a day. Some babies sleep as little as 11 hours and some others sleep as much as 20 hours. Older babies (6 months to 1 year) sleep about 14 hours a day. Toddlers sleep between 10 to 13 hours. Pre-schoolers sleep between 10 to 12 hours.
Types of sleeping problems
Difficulty settling down to sleep
It is very common for babies, toddlers, and young children to have trouble falling asleep. Up to 1 in 3 children show an unwillingness to go to sleep.
Separation issues and co-sleeping
In many families, parents choose to sleep in the same bed as their babies and small children. The Canadian Paediatric Society does not recommend co-sleeping. Some parents say co-sleeping can help in maintaining regular breastfeedings. But it may disrupt the parents’ sleep, cause tension in the parents’ intimate relationship, or cause your baby to become dependent on you to fall asleep. There is also an association between co-bedding and crib death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Night awakenings occur when a child wakes up in the middle of the night and cannot settle back to sleep. Often the child will cry or call out for their parents, or get out of bed. This is common. Many parents allow the child to sleep in the parents’ bed for the rest of the night. This may lead to dependency on the parent to resume sleep. The child should be reassured and brought back to his bed. The child eventually learns self-soothing strategies.
Nightmares are dreams that bring about fear or anxiety. Nightmares are very common. They occur in as many as 1 in 2 children.
Night terrors are different from nightmares. Night terrors are characterized by the child appearing to waken in horror. The child often screams in panic. Usually, the child does not remember what led to the feelings of fear.
Sleepwalking occurs in about 15 percent of all children. It occurs most often in children between the ages of 4 to 12 years. Sleepwalking children usually walk around the house aimlessly. They appear uncoordinated, often do not make sense, or start urinating in some place other than the toilet. A bell hung on the child’s door or on the front door may provide reassurance that you will hear your child sleep-walking.
Healthy sleeping habits
Newborns and young children seem to fall asleep easily when they are held or rocked. Newborns fall asleep very easily when sucking on a nipple or pacifier.
Develop a consistent nap and bedtime routine
Children respond well to routine. Your child will likely respond well to a fixed nap and bedtime routine. Naps for toddlers should be no longer than 2 hours and should end before 4 p.m.
Your child’s bedtime will depend on his age and energy levels. Bedtime routines can include:
giving a bath
putting on pajamas
offering a breastfeed or bottle
dimming the lights
nighttime cuddling, stroking, singing,
Afterward you can put the baby in the crib or the young child in bed. You can kiss the child goodnight and leave the room. Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine will help your child settle down more easily.
Create a welcoming sleeping environment
Keep the room dark and quiet. Nightlights are not recommended. Instead, keep the light on in the hallway with the door ajar. This will allow the child to go to the bathroom without fear of the dark and will allow you to use a closed door as a motivation to get the child back in bed should they begin to use delay tactics to go to bed at night.
Your baby should sleep on her back, toward the bottom of the crib. When they are old enough to roll from front to back there is no need to reposition them. There should be no blankets or crib bumpers or other soft materials that may block a baby’s breathing. They should wear a sleeper that is warm enough to make a blanket unnecessary.
When your child becomes aware of separation at bedtime, you may give him a stuffed animal or blanket to offer a sense of comfort. Do not give such items during early infancy as these may be risk factors for crib death.
Your baby should learn to fall asleep by himself. If he were to wake up and find you gone, the whole process of soothing to sleep may be required several times per night.
React to infant crying when appropriate
Respond to the cries of newborns and babies in their first few months of life. The crying is a way to express a need.
As for 7 or 8 month year old babies, it is entirely normal if they cry prior to falling asleep.
It’s alright to let your baby cry a little before settling down by. If, however, your baby has grown accustomed to having you around when falling asleep, you can try to reduce this dependency by gradually lessening your time in the bedroom. One approach is to lay your child down, leave for a few minutes, return and stay until the child sleeps. Every evening, stay out of the room for a little longer. After about 5 to 7 days your baby will learn to sleep alone.
Recognize your child’s delaying tactics
Once your child understands the bedtime routine, he can manipulate the situation. Toddlers and young children are particularly skillful at prolonging the bedtime routine. They will ask for water, another story, or a cuddle. Parents and caregivers should return the child to bed immediately. Warn the child there will be consequences if the behaviour is repeated. Consequences can include closing the door, or not offering stories at the next bedtime.
Sleeping problems can lead to baby irritation and parental fatigue.
On average, newborns daily sleeps total 16 hours.
Up to 1 in 3 children show an unwillingness to go to sleep.
Develop a consistent nap and bedtime routine.
Create a welcoming and appropriate bedroom.
Slowly decrease the amount of time you spend with your child before he falls asleep.