Sleep

Parents and other adults who care for young children often worry about their kids' sleep (or lack of it!). And for a good reason! People and parents need to sleep in order to work properly, and kids need to sleep in order to grow up healthy.

Each of us has our own unique sleep habits and body rhythms, but our relationships can have a big impact on how easily and quickly we can fall asleep and stay asleep. Emotion regulation, or knowing and controlling your thoughts, is closely linked to learning how to fall asleep and stay asleep.

How normal is it?

Babies need more sleep every day than grown-ups, but they sleep light and their sleep periods are shorter. Babies are all different, and so is how much they sleep.

Even with naps, babies sleep 14 to 17 hours a day from birth to 3 months. They will wake up many times during the night to be fed and loved. To be clear, this is perfectly normal and shouldn't be tried to be stopped.

Until they are about 6 months old, kids can sleep for longer periods of time. Some even sleep through the night. But it can take a lot longer for babies to sleep for 8 to 12 hours straight without crying or waking up.

As babies become toddlers, they are able to discover more and have more say over what they do and where they go. Still, they are very reliant on the people who take care of them. They might not be able to sleep because they are scared and excited about being dependent and alone at the same time.

Tweens and young adults need 12 to 15 hours of sleep every day, most of which they need at night.

Two-year-olds usually sleep 11 to 12 hours at night and take one or two naps during the day.

Kids ages 3 to 4 will need about 12 hours of sleep, and some may still nap during the day.

Regressions in sleep

A baby's sleep habits change during sleep regressions. Usually, they last three to six weeks, but sometimes they last longer. Babies may wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. They may also skip naps or take shorter ones. Sleep changes are a normal part of a baby's growth and happen when they are learning new things. Most kids have them around 4 months, 8 months, and 18 months, but every child is different.

Not taking naps and having trouble going to bed

Kids as young as two often start to fight sleep schedules like going to bed or taking naps. They do this because the world has become very exciting for them and they know that family life goes on after they go to bed! Between the ages of 3 and 5, kids generally stop taking naps.

Bad dreams

Kids between the ages of 2 and 3 often have nightmares, even if they are loved and cared for. The kid might wake up from a "bad dream" or think about it when they wake up. Like for adults, dreams are a big part of how kids and teens work through feelings and situations that are hard or confusing. At age two, kids don't really know the difference between fantasy and truth, or between how they feel and how other people feel. In this case, if a kid is mad at their parent or caretaker, they might think that the parent is also mad at them. These things can make people more afraid, and their fears can show up in their dreams as monsters under the bed.

When does it become hard for a baby or child to sleep?

About one-third of babies and children have trouble sleeping at some point during their first few years. What exactly is a "sleep problem"? When a child's sleeping habits make them very upset or not well rested, or when their sleeping habits bother or upset their parents, that can help you understand what sleep problems are. It's possible that a baby wakes up a lot at night for no clear reason or takes a long time to fall back asleep (over an hour).

Some things that might make it hard for a child to sleep are their temperament or nature, problems with their housing or room, problems with feeding, their physical health, or a traumatic birth.

Babies who have trouble sleeping may also have problems with their parents' mental health or their relationship with their child. It can be hard for parents to put their baby to bed at night. They may feel bad wanting some alone time, or they may enjoy having a baby who needs to be rocked to sleep. They might be scared that something bad will happen while they're not around. And all of this can change how and if the baby learns to settle down on their own over time.

What you can do to help parents with their child's sleep at home

Most babies will learn to put themselves back to sleep on their own, and eventually they will sleep through the night if their parents or caretakers are sure about bedtime for them and their baby.

Assisting a parent or caretaker in getting their child to sleep better can be hard. Families are probably too tired to think about what they can do next to make things better in this situation. Families usually want to get things fixed as soon as possible, which makes sense. They only get professional help when they are desperate and need support and kindness.

11.Think about how you feel

As professionals, the advice we give parents is based on our own views, histories, and experiences as parents about how to help babies sleep. Think about how you feel and try not to think about it anymore. As much as possible, try to be fair, and let each family tell you what they want.

Give me a bedtime routine

Parents and caregivers can help their kids learn how to sleep well as early as two or three weeks old and up to three months old. As part of a bedtime routine, you might wash the baby, change them into a new baby grow, turn down the lights, and sing or play a song. Babies will quickly figure out that the days are ending and nights are coming.

By the time the baby is 3 months old, it may be best to split time for feeding and going to bed. People who are taking care of babies might want to feed them, bathe them, read them a book, and then put them to bed. Babies can learn how to fall asleep and get back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night if you put them to bed while they are calm, sleepy, and awake.

Some things that children might do every day are brush their teeth, put on pajamas, and read two books.

Pay attention to how parents or caregivers feel

Really want to know what the parent or caretaker thinks the problem is. It can really help a parent or caretaker start to make sense of what might be going on if you just listen to their feelings and fears about having trouble sleeping and their relationship with their baby.

Suggest a way to do "sleep training" that takes connection into account.

There are a lot of different ways to teach a baby to sleep on their own. These methods are often called "sleep training." But the word "sleep training" and some of the methods you might read about in books or on the internet are debated. You can also listen to this Zero to Three podcast about sleep problems if you're interested in the study about sleep training methods.

We'll talk about how parents and other adults can teach babies to go to sleep on their own in a safe, gentle, and loving way.

When babies are about three months old, their parents may want to start working on getting them to sleep on their own.

Assure parents and caregivers that babies can learn to calm down on their own, and that being able to sleep on their own is an important skill, just like moving or walking.

Also, remind parents that their babies and kids watch how they act, so it's important to stay calm, sure of yourself, and comforting. Going into the room and telling them, "It's okay, it's nighttime, I love you, go back to sleep now," can help.

Tell parents not to rush in as soon as they hear their baby is fussing. This could be done to keep the baby from fully waking up or because the parents want to calm them down as soon as possible. On the other hand, babies often move, mutter, or cry out during lighter stages of sleep. Giving them a few short moments to try and fall back asleep can be helpful for them.

Parents should know that it's normal for their kids to cry a little while they learn how to go to sleep on their own. Not that babies need to or should be left to cry for more than a few minutes in order to learn how to fall asleep on their own. Going into the baby's room often to love and comfort them and check on them is important. This should happen as often as the parent wants, whether that's every second or every five minutes.

Babies can feel better when their parents sit next to them and stroke them. Also, if this doesn't calm the baby down, you can always pick them up and take a hug. You will need to work at it over time to learn how to go to sleep on your own.

Tell parents and caregivers that if a baby has trouble settling down, they might not be able to self-soothe yet and that it might be best to try again in a few weeks.

Ask for help

Someone who is a parent or caretaker and is so tired that it's affecting their mood or ability to do normal things should talk to a health worker about it. In fact, not getting enough sleep may make it more likely for new parents to have mental health problems like sadness after giving birth. This can make it harder for new parents to get enough sleep.

Sleep in a nursery or other place for kids to sleep

The way babies sleep at home will affect how they sleep at daycare, and the other way around. These tips will help your kids get good sleep in your care, but keep in mind that every child is different and some will nap better at home than at daycare.

11. Follow a child's sleep schedule at home

When possible, letting babies and kids sleep at your place by following the same sleep schedule they have at home can help them calm down and fall asleep. You might find it helpful to give them a familiar blanket or toy to cuddle with.

Help them learn about sleep

You can help little kids start to understand how important sleep is. Thinking about the bedroom is often the best place to start. Kidz can talk about their own bedroom or their dream bedroom. They can talk about the curtains, lights, books, and toys in their rooms. People could play house in the role play area and act out going to bed.

Tips to give parents and friends and family

Having a baby or young child can make you very tired. It's normal and fine to be tired and sick of not getting enough sleep. It will get better.

Every baby and child is different and will need a different amount of sleep.

Kids and kids do better when they get enough sleep. Like learning to walk, learning how to go to sleep on your own is a useful skill. Your child can learn this skill with your help when they are about three months old.

Babies learn how to sleep on their own over time. To do this in a kind and caring way, try these ideas:

Try not to rush in as soon as you hear your baby is fussy. You should give them a little time to calm down first.

Instead of picking them up right away, try to calm them down in other ways, like stroking them or gently comforting them.

They can tell how you feel, so try to stay cool, sure of yourself, and reassuring.

Set a plan for going to bed. A bath and a book are two routines that your child will love.It will help them get ready for bed. Start a routine while your child is still little.

If your child has trouble settling down, they might not be able to calm themselves down yet. You should wait a few weeks before you try again. Babies and little kids will also have more trouble sleeping if they are sick, growing, or learning something new, like how to crawl.

Not all babies and young kids can sleep well, which can be hard on the whole family. If you are tired, hopeless, and stressed out, talk to a trusted adult, like your health worker, GP, or the staff at your child's center. They can help you.