Childhood Sleep Disturbance

When it is a problem?

• When your chld refuses to go to bed and does not et sufficient sleep.
• When your child wakes up in the night and cries or wakes you up.
• When your child sleep walks.
• When your child has night mares (child is awake and can remember a bad dream) or night terrors (child may have eyes open but is not awake and may be very supset and screaming)

Solutions

• Create a reagular night time routine that allows time for your child do calming activities such as read or take a bath.
• Teach your child ways to relax and fall back asleep such as thinking happy thoughts, counting or hugging a stuffed animal.
• If your child wakes in the middle of the n ight, check on them and then quickly say good night firmly and leave the room.
• Do not let your child cry for more than 20 minutes without checking on them.
• Reward them for staying in bed with praise and small tokens.
• If your c hild is having an i ght teror, just hold your child until they calm down. It may be helpful to consult a physician or sleep specialist if the problem persists.
• If your child is having nightmares talk about his/her fears and see if the chld has any concrete ways to feel safe such as a night light, night monitor so th ey can feel commected to the parents, etc.

Credits: Center for Child and Family Services, Inc.