Sleep Habits"
Having problems getting your child to sleep?
Do you suspect that your child’s lack of sleep is affecting daytime behavior problems?
We all need sleep. Sleep is especially important for children. It is vital for their mental and physical development.
How much sleep do children need?
Newborns (0-2 Months)
- Need about 10-18 hours
- Irregular sleep patterns
- Sleep on back
- Quiet and dark room
- Encourage nighttime sleep
Infants (2-12 months)
- Need 14-15 hours, 2-5 hour naps
- Increase nighttime sleep
- Maintain a consistent quiet and dark sleep environment
- Create a consistent and enjoyable bedtime routine
- Encourage your baby to fall asleep independently and to become self-soothing
Toddlers (1-3 years)
- Need 12-14 hours, 1-4 hour naps
- Morning naps stop around 18 months
- Maintain a consistent sleep environment
- Maintain daily sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine
- Set limits
- Encourage a security object
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
- Need 11-13 hours
- Naps usually end by 5 years
- Nighttime fears may emerge
- Maintain a consistent sleep environment
- Maintain a regular and consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine
- Watch for unusual nighttime difficulty breathing or awakenings
School-Age Children (5-12 years)
- Need 10-11 hours
- Maintain a consistent sleep environment
- Maintain daily sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine
- Set limits
- Avoid caffeine
- Watch for increasing demands on children’s time such as TV and computers leading to sleep deprivation
- Watch for signs of chronic difficulty sleeping
What can you do to help your child get to sleep?
Consistency in your bedtime routine is the key!
Typical Bedtime Routine
- Light snack
- Bath
- Pajamas
- Brush teeth
- Read a story and or sing a song
- Check sleep environment
- Put child to bed
- Say goodnight and leave
Additional Hints
- Put your child to sleep when they are drowsy but awake
- Make bedtime the same time every night
- Make bedtime a positive and relaxing experience without TV or videos
- Keep the same lighting and temperature the same all night
Have your child form positive associations with sleeping.
Discourage nighttime awakenings by encouraging your child to fall asleep independently of you. Exceptions may include when a child is sick or has been recently injured and may be in pain.
For more information and additional training on helping your children get to sleep…
… CALL OR E-MAIL US NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION!