Why is my child not sleeping?
Unlike a newborn baby, your child does have the ability to sleep through the night without needing to be fed. You may find that your child, who once slept perfectly as a baby, now wakes constantly. Don't despair. Night waking occurs in 50 per cent of children who had previously been sleeping through the night.
If they only wake occasionally, it could be that they're ill, teething or over tired. But if interrupted sleep has become a familiar pattern, you may need to look again at their bedtime routine and make some changes.
What happens if they don't get enough sleep?
The more exhausted a child's brain the less likely they will be to recognise when to put the brakes on. Experts also believe that children who don't get enough sleep are far more prone to accidents and headaches. In very young children extreme overtiredness can even affect brain development. Studies also show poorer academic achievement and depression in older children who don't get enough sleep.
Nightmares
Nightmares are common and young children are more prone to them than adults because they spend almost 80 per cent of their sleep time in the 'dream sleep' phase, whereas adults spend around 10 per cent of sleep in this phase. Nightmares can also be triggered by lack of sleep, stress or anxiety. Since young children are just beginning to understand the concept of fear, give plenty reassurance if they've had a nightmare or think there's a monster under the bed. A kiss and a cuddle should calm them down fairly quickly.
Night terrors
Night terrors are caused by an interruption to the normal sleeping cycle. Reports suggest that around three per cent of children have night terrors. They're often linked to lack of sleep or happen after a stressful event. Night terrors can look more dramatic than nightmares and tend to happen earlier in the night, usually during the first two hours of sleep. Your child will wake up sobbing hysterically thrashing and kicking around. Or they may just look 'out of it' and behave oddly. They are often disorientated, not fully awake and may not be able to recognise you or tell you what's wrong. Night terrors tend to run in families and usually start before the age of ten, most commonly affecting children aged two to six. They can be upsetting to watch but they aren't an illness and your child is unlikely to remember anything about it the next day.
If they happen regularly see your GP.
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mrs t hissey, over 2 years
very informative, explained in great detail but could do with ideas of how to help, tips of what to do, i not a fan of leaving my toddler to cry, that would hurt me. what to do if asking for drinks? is it a habit, or a comfort
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