Get your child to sleep through the night
I have an effective technique for getting children to sleep through the night. Give yourself a week, but you should see results in three nights. Before starting, be sure that your child isn't waking because he's unwell. On the first night, when he wakes, go in, don't put a light on and place your hand on his body, saying something reassuring such as, 'It's time for sleep now.' Don't engage in conversation or make eye contact.
The second night, re-settle him and leave. On the third night, go to the doorway but not into the room. After this, don't go in at all. Children over one are harder to sleep train, but it's never too late. There may be tears, but it works. A few nights of crying is a lot better than years with a child who won't sleep.
Malika Bouyazra, a post-natal consultant with the Sleeping Babies Maternity and Night Nursing service (www.sleepingbabies.co.uk)
Read more of our tips and features on putting an end to those sleepless nights:
- Getting the temperature right at bedtime
- Sleep strategies that work
- Baby sleep solutions
- The sleep rules
By Malika Bouyazra, post-natal consultant
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Where to next?
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Dealing with sleep problems
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Early-morning wake-up
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Establishing a bedtime routine
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Help your child get a good night's sleep
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Sleep strategies that work
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Sleeping problems in children with Down's Syndrome
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When your baby's too tired to sleep
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Your baby's sleeping pattern
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Babies who struggle to sleep on their back
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Baby sleep solutions continued
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Baby sleep tips: Day & night, make noise
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Alyssa, about 1 year
That's nonesense.... My older son woke up until he was 2.5, to either have a drink or because his diaper was wet. Everything is a stage, and eventually all children sleep through the night. to Therese: your son could be teething, you can recognize teething if a child wakes up screaming, and then calms down for a few minutes. That's GP is clearly not a professional
Report this commentTherese, about 1 year
My son slept through the night until he was 18 mth (from 7pm to 8am). Then suddenly he started waking up to 10 times every night and after 5 o'clock there's no way we can get him back to sleep. We've practiced rapid return tecnique for 3 month now and finally in the last couple of weeks we've seen a slight improvement. I called my GP for advice and guidance, but she told me I (!!!) probably need to see a psyciatrist, because if a child is not sleeping well it is ALWAYS the partents fault. I was shocked and disappointed in her response. I know sometimes children can go through phases of sleeping badly due to starting to take in a lot of impressions during the day. Do you think my sons sleep problem is temporary or should be try to find a dr who will take it seriously?
Report this commentsonia, about 1 year
m toddler is 18mths and is gtting into the habi of waking earlier. hehas a bdtime routine and normally in bed by 19.00 he has alays been a 06.00 = 06.30 baby but now he is waking at 05.00 or 04.45 and his daddy doesnt like me to leave him to cry
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Emily, about 1 year
That sounds awful. Have you looked at why your son suddenly started waking 10 times a night? With our son, it was because I nrought him down to one nap too early and he was overtired at bedtime Once he was back on two naps - until he was 2! - he slept right through again. Does he have a dummy? Our son has a Sleepytot Comforter and when he was younger, he was able to find the dummy on that so he never fully awoke. Are tehre noises from neighbours - you coudl try white noise. Is the early waking down to too much light in the room in the morning - try a blackout blind. Or is he scared? Maybe a night light would help. I think you ahve to try and think of teh reason why he's waking and then try what you can to solve the problem. Good luck!
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