Helping Your Child Get a Good Night's Sleep
January 2002 — Parents know that sleeping like a baby is not always as wonderful as it sounds. Newborns wake every few hours to be fed. Toddlers turn bedtime into battle time. Preschoolers wait until nightfall to worry about monsters. School-age kids bottle up their worries until Mom or Dad says "Lights out!" and teenagers may decide that an all-night study marathon is the only way to boost a sagging grade point average. To help your child avoid sleep problems, try these tips:
Establish Bedtime Rituals
A warm bath, a loving cuddle and a kiss good night can be a part of your child's bedtime routine beginning in infancy. It's best if you put your baby in bed relaxed, but not asleep, so he learns to fall asleep on his own. Then, if he wakes in the night, he'll be able to fall back asleep without your help.
Enjoy Quiet Time
Reading bedtime stories to a drowsy child can be a very pleasant way to end a busy day - for both of you. Don't stop reading to your child when she learns to read on her own - even independent readers enjoy hearing a soothing voice as they drift off to sleep.
Take Time to Listen
Children appreciate a sympathetic ear just the way grownups do. If you spend a few minutes listening to your child tell the story of his day you may be surprised at just how complicated his life really is. If he has trouble falling asleep, you may want to play calming music. Guided imagery recordings can help restless kids make the transition from day to night.
Teach Time Management
Teens - and even younger kids - often are so busy with school, sports and social activities that they can hardly find time to sleep. And, while a 16-year-old may not need as much sleep as a 16-month-old, everybody needs the refreshment sleep brings. Limit your children's activities to ensure their good health, and help them plan their days so they can finish their work and get the rest they need.
It's always a good idea to discuss with your pediatrician any concerns you may have about your child's sleep habits. The physician can rule out any medical problems and address any developmental concerns you may have. If you need a referral to a pediatrician, call the Memorial Healthcare System Physician Referral Service at
(800) 944-DOCS.