Children’s Sleep: Best Practices

I will readily admit that I have never dealt with infant sleep but I have had my fair share of two-year old tummy aches, separation anxiety, and sleep trauma, and even neurological sleep issues.

In fact, our son, now takes sleep medication every night to help him get to sleep and stay asleep. Not every child has such extreme sleep issues as him but many children have sleep problems that can be avoided if taught from early on.

DO:

• Make bedtime special time for cozy interaction. However, be firm about the time and place for bed.
• Take notice of when your child gets sleepy and make this bedtime.
• Our pediatrician says to keep regular bed, wake, and nap times in order to maintain the same amount of sleep each day. Children welcome routine.
• Use a simple bedtime routine that can be used anywhere (in case you travel).
• Use white noise if needed.
• Give children physical activity and fresh air during the day.

DON’T

• Never give a bottle with anything other than water.
• Don’t start giving solids before about 6 months of age.  Starting solid food sooner will not help your baby sleep though the night.
• Don’t fill up your child’s bed with toys.  Not safe.
• Never use sending your child to bed as a threat.They can go to time out or to their room but don’t send them to early bed.
• Don’t give your child foods and drinks with caffeine in them, like hot chocolate, tea, cola, chocolate, etc.
• Don’t let your child watch more than one to two hours of TV during the day. Yes, this hard to do!
• Don’t put a TV or computer in their room. In fact, a bedroom should be for sleeping, not playing. In our house there are only books in bedrooms.

Information from University of Michigan.