Does Your Child Have Trouble Sleeping?

Kids go through phases of development. Sometimes they enjoy uninterrupted, deep sleep. They can sleep so peacefully, that parents might envy the restful sleep that their children enjoy. However, some children are not the best sleepers. Your child may wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Waking up in the middle of the night can be normal. But here are some reasons kids have sleepless nights and some steps you can take to reduce them.

Scary Dreams – It’s normal for children to wake up fearful of thunderstorms, or as a result of a bad dream, or monsters under the bed. But if this is a recurring theme with your child, you might want to take steps to reduce their fear. Ask your child why they are so afraid. You might find out that siblings are telling scary stories or that they are watching a scary TV show you were not aware of. You might find out that monsters are living under the bed or in the closet. A night light can be a great defense against imaginary creatures. Try checking under their bed each night at bedtime to let them know that the monsters are gone. Luckily, as kids get older, like their belief in all other myths and fairytales, monsters will also disappear.

Bathroom Breaks – Many children have underdeveloped bladders that simply won’t allow them to sleep through the night. Waking up is a much better outcome than the alternative, which is wetting the bed. If you haven’t already, install a night light in your bathroom. This can avoid the shock of bright lights, which can further awaken your child. Also, don’t talk to you child if you are assisting them with the bathroom. Stimulating your child’s senses can prevent them from falling back to sleep.

Too Much Energy – your child could be waking up because they have too much pent up energy. This could be due to lack of exercise or problems with their diet. If you find that your child has boundless energy at bedtime and they have trouble winding down, this could be the cause. Try getting your child involved with a sport or exercise program. You can also try cutting out desert and reducing sugary snacks in your child’s diet.

If you are concerned those sleepless nights are a result of a medical issue, or if you need help with your child’s diet and nutrition contact your pediatrician.