Getting a good
night’s sleep is crucial for health at all stages of life. Insufficient good quality sleep can lead to mental and physical
health problems, and even a few hours of lost sleep can make you cranky and
tired. As with all aspects of childcare, kids will differ. Some children will sleep
better than others right from the word go, and some seem to struggle to get to
sleep and stay like it for more than a few hours at a time. When the teenage
years roll around, the problem very often reverses, and you’re then struggling
to get them out of bed! For younger children, there could be a variety of
underlying factors as to why they aren’t getting the sleep they need.
Babies
Newborns and infants are the most
notoriously difficult when it comes to sleeping for extended periods. There
have been studies galore into why this should be so, with three factors coming
out as the main causes.
·
Illness or discomfort: If the baby is crying or seems distressed, or is
acting in any way out of the ordinary, you should consider whether they might
be feeling unwell. They could be coming down with a virus like a cold, or it
could be one of the common causes of discomfort and pain in infants such as
colic or teething. Most of the time these are simple problems that can be
home-medicated, but if the baby has a
fever or becomes lethargic and hard to rouse, you should see a doctor. There
are treatments for colic, acid reflux, and teething pain that are safe for
babies, although sometimes it can be a case of trying each one until you find
out which works! You can often get it right the first
time if you make a note of every symptom they’re exhibiting and check it
against a reputable medical source of information, like the WebMD Children’s Health
Center website.
·
Hunger: Babies are best fed
frequently throughout the day and night, as their systems are designed to be nourished this way. Some babies adapt well
to a more rigid routine, and it’s possible to get them used to feeding on a less frequent basis. That means
you are more likely to get a good night’s sleep, but on the other hand, many babies don’t adapt well and will grizzle and cry if not fed when
they are hungry. It’s also amazing how much babies can consume! If you’re breastfeeding
one of the worries frequently expressed
is that you don’t know how much milk baby is drinking. If you’re concerned that
baby might not be getting enough, the best approach is to feed them more often and use a breast-pump in between feeds. Doing so will increase the amount of milk you
are producing so you can be confident you always have plenty for their needs.
You can also supplement the breastmilk with formula,
examples of which are detailed on
websites such as Formuland.
·
Comfort: The psychological
drives of babies are difficult to pin down precisely, due to the fact they have
no way of communicating their feelings verbally. It’s also hard to conduct
studies on babies due to the ethical issues involved, so the science behind the
psychological needs of babies is far from complete. What is known is that
physical contact is critically important for a baby’s development. If your
infant is crying, they may simply need to
be cuddled and comforted. Parents are often afraid that if they respond to a
crying baby every time, the child will cry more often because it knows it is
going to be picked up. The evidence doesn’t support this belief, in fact, babies who are always comforted when
they cry seem to be less prone to this problem. The ultimate in close contact
parenting is to keep the baby with you
most of the time. Sharing a
bed with baby is controversial, because of the risk of suffocation, but a
bedside cot is a good compromise. Obviously,
the demands of modern life may mean you can’t always be there for your baby,
but trustworthy family members and friends, or professionals in child care will
be just as effective in soothing a fretful baby.
Toddlers
Once your child starts to move about by
themselves, they will be able to get out of bed and wander about, so your best
bet is to use a cot or bed with extendable sides to keep them confined to
quarters! Having a good bedtime routine will help prepare your toddler for
sleep, and reading them a story once they are
settled in bed will help them relax and drift off. If your little one
persists in getting up and making a fuss, it’s time to be firm but kind. As
long as they aren’t sick and there’s nothing wrong, they need to learn that
bedtime is for sleep.
Older
children
Nightmares and night terrors are the
main problem for older kids. All children will dream, and some of those dreams
may be nightmares, but they can become so real and terrifying that a child will
wake up screaming and hysterical. They will need comforting and settling down
to sleep again, which may take a while if they’ve been very distressed. Avoiding unsuitable TV programs, books, games,
images, and conversations will help reduce the chances that nightmares will
occur, but if they start to happen very regularly, it’s best to have a check-up
in case there is an underlying cause. Bedwetting may accompany night terrors,
or a child may just be experiencing trouble controlling their bladder overnight.
Using sleeping underwear and waterproof bedding will help reduce the cleaning
up, and you shouldn’t get mad at your child if they are taking longer to stay
dry than their contemporaries. Again, if the problem persists, seek medical
advice.
Every child will experience sleep
disturbances of some kind as they grow up. Your role as their parent is to try
and find the cause so you can address it, and be there to help them in any way
you can to get the good night’s sleep they need.
