Dealing with
children who have trouble sleeping can be frustrating for both parents and
caregivers. By bedtime, parents are
tired from a long day and wish for their children to be put down
quickly and quietly. This, however, is rarely the reality as most children
demand attention by begging for another story or playing one more round in a
game. The key to managing sleeping difficulties is...
The key to managing sleeping difficulties is to first understand what a
child is trying to communicate by their requests. Once that need is met,
parents may work to create an environment that facilitates an easier transition
to bedtime.
Frequently, children
who have trouble going to bed are expressing a difficulty in separating from their
caregiver. The way to counter this problem is to for parents to carve out time
for intentional parent-child interactions during the day. Such experiences demonstrate
to children that they are loved and supported and decrease the potential of them
to view nightly separations as a rejection. Children should also not associate
bedtime with wakefulness. The way to discourage this connection is to limit
lively play to daytime and only allow it outside of the bedroom.
Some children
may also need to learn what helps them feel settled-be it a warm bottle of milk
or their favorite stuffed animal. This object may be the same used when a child
is fussy and having a hard time managing their emotions.
Nighttime
routines are valuable in managing sleeping problems because they instill the
idea of sameness to the child. These routines also demonstrate expectations
around sleep and bedtime. Children who are not provided with regular routines
get anxious and feel out of control because they are not sure when to be expected
to go to sleep. Parents should not be hesitant in setting limits and remember
that limits reinforce children’s safety needs. Allowing a child to determine
their own bedtime counters this need because it removes structure and
containment.
Most young kids
learn new patterns rapidly so utilizing these strategies is a step in the right
direction. If, however, it seems that sleeping issues are manifestations of
deeper difficulties, consider bringing your child in for therapeutic treatment to
work through the issue and help them feel more in control.
Posted by Asya Brodsky, LSW, CADC
Source:
Minde, K. (2002). Sleep Disorders in Infants and Young
Children. In Maldonado-Duran, J. M., Infant
and Toddler Mental Health (pp.269-302). Washington DC: American Psychiatric
Publishing.
