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Sleeping Disorders
Bedtime Routine Children will act better if they can see a pattern they can rely on. A regular bedtime and a standard routine for settling down for the night both help children to understand what's expected. It provides children with security - they know when things are going to happen. Children should sleep in the same place every night if possible. Changing location - sleeping in different beds, on the floor or on the sofa - makes it difficult for children to get into a good pattern. From the child's point of view, going to sleep is a separation: from parents, from siblings, from toys, from the exciting events of the day, and from whatever is continuing to go on in the household. If toddler bounces up again after going to bed silently put him back into bed, tuck him in, and leave. At first, you may have to repeat this process a hundred times before he stays put. Nightmares Nightmares, or bad dreams, are indications of an active mind putting life's experiences in order. Although a child can have a nightmare at any time during the night, as he gets older he will dream towards morning, as adults do (most nightmares occur after the first three hours of sleep). We all exercise dreams and nightmares to handle stress adjustments and pressures. Children can dream as soon as they learn to talk or maybe even before. If a child is stuck with the same dream get a health professional to help work out the source of stress. Don't chase "monsters" in the closet but provide assurance. As your child grows, more dreams and nightmares will come in the early morning hours. About 70% of children experience nightmares every year during childhood. Night Terrors There are sudden partial awakenings typically occurring within the first 3 hours of falling asleep. They often start with a high pitched scream. Children are flushed, sweaty and unresponsive to comfort. Night terrors are scary for a parent because the child looks so wild-eyed, often sits up in bed and tosses about. But usually they are not abnormal or harmful, and the child will have no memory of the event in the morning. Many parents try to wake their child and talk about it the next morning. It is best to supervise your child and not to wake him. Within a few minutes he will settle down and hopefully won't remember a thing in the morning. Sleepwalking and Talking Both of these conditions (just as usual toddler's nightmares) run in families, increase in frequency and degree during times of stress and tiredness, and are more common in boys. As children can get hurt while walking about, keep the floors clear and stairways blocked. Don't take the night-time talk too seriously, as the content won't make much sense. Assure your child that he's normal and that his sharp mind and lively imagination keep him going at night. Most children outgrow these conditions by adolescence.
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