Q: How much sleep does my child need?
The amount of sleep that young children need can vary, but most children under five years are likely to need somewhere between ten and 12 hours. If your child is having fewer hours than this, consider whether they are showing the classic signs of sleep deprivation: irritability, unco-operativeness, frequent infections such as colds that won't go away, and poor concentration.
Q: Should my child have a nap in the day?
Many children under four years old will need a nap during the day. Contrary to popular belief, this will not prevent them from getting to sleep in the evening, provided that the nap takes place early in the afternoon and the child is able to be active afterwards.
The worst time for a child to have a nap is, of course, late in the afternoon. A late nap often means that a child is not tired at bedtime. This is often the cause of a vicious circle whereby a child develops a habit of not sleeping at bedtime, but needs to nap late in the afternoon. In such situations, it is often better to move the afternoon nap gradually so that it takes place earlier each day.
Q: I have a battle to get my child into bed
Sleep is often about routine. Some parents are lucky and a good routine is established early on in their children's lives. For other families, bedtimes can be a nightmare! The good news, though, is that a new routine can be introduced into children's lives.There are many effective sleep techniques around, so it is worth contacting your health visitor for advice.
Once you introduce a technique, it is essential that you persist with it, as it will take some time for your child to learn and accept the new routine. A half-hearted approach can actually make bedtimes worse.
Q: My child wakes in the night
Adults and children will have moments in the night when their sleep is light and they may wake. Ideally, children need to learn to roll over and fall back to sleep again by themselves. Children who are rocked to sleep, suck a dummy or listen to a CD are more likely to wake up because this 'sleep aid' is not there for them.
If your child wakes, aim to settle them quickly without fuss so as not to awaken them further. If you think your child is waking because they have become reliant on a 'sleep aid', think about encouraging them to lose their dependence on it.
Q: My child wakes up early in the morning
We are primed to fall asleep when darkness falls and to wake up when it is light. Putting up black-out blinds or thick curtains can, therefore, help to prevent the morning light from waking your child.
Some children also wake up because they need to use the potty or toilet. If this is the case, think about how easy it is for your child to do this safely alone. Leaving out some books may also help, as some children will look at them for a few minutes and then fall back asleep. When your child does go back to bed, remember afterwards to praise or even reward them.
Q: Should I allow my child to sleep with me?
This is often a matter of personal preference - although when it comes to babies, the advice is a definite 'no' if you are a smoker, have taken drugs or alcohol or if you are very tired (see www.fsid.org.uk). Another factor to be taken into consideration is whether it works for everyone and also how the transition will be made for the child to sleep in their own bed later on. The latter often proves quite awkward, as children who are used to sharing a bed with parents can find it hard to fall asleep alone.
Q: My child has many tantrums. Can this be due to a lack of sleep?
Tantrums have many causes and are common in children from 18 months to three years. They are worsened by the lack of sleep. Children and adults who are deprived of sleep find it harder to regulate their emotions. This means that angry outbursts are more frequent, as well as tears and difficulty in being calm. If you can see a pattern to the tantrums, that is, towards the middle of the afternoon, it might be worth considering putting your child down for a short nap in the late morning or early afternoon.
