Do Children Have Sleep Disorders?
Children are subject to disorders of sleep and wakefulness which are unique to childhood, and their care and treatment demand special expertise. Insomnia, sleepwalking, nightmares, nocturnal bedwetting, and other sleep-related symptoms are not only a problem for the young patient but for the entire family.
Setting Limits At Bedtime
A child who is used to stalling at night will not give in so easily and a full-blown temper tantrum may result. At that point pediatric experts recommend closing the child?s door by saying "as soon as you are quiet, I will open your door." The determined child will next come out of their room which should prompt the parent to immediately return the child in a firm and business like fashion. Again close the door repeating "as soon as you are quiet, I will open your door." Dr. Goldstein feels that conversation, urging, or cajoling the child at this point gives the attention that reinforces undesirable behavior. Continue this routine until the child realizes that you mean business! Many parents have problems with closing the door to their child?s room. They feel it will unnecessarily frighten the child or cause some psychological damage. On the contrary, experts agree by closing the door a parent is setting some very important limits for the child and the physical barrier is simply the only way these limits can be properly set. Parents can say something through the door so their child knows they are there.
* Source: Bruce A. Epstein, M.D., All Children?s Hospital
Sleeping With Parents
Some children seem to fall asleep okay, but at two or three o?clock in the morning they wake up and crawl into bed with their parents. Children like sleeping with their parents- they know that in the parents bedroom they are safe and nothing can go wrong. Allowing the child to continue this practice, however, will prevent the child from learning how to cope on their own at night and will infringe on the parents? privacy. Therefore, when children come into their parents bedroom at night they should be returned to their bed as soon as their presence is discovered. There may be protests and tears, but it is important that parents remain adamant that the child stay in their own room at night (after all, instead of coming into your room, they could wander around the house at night and hurt themselves, even going outside!) If parents are deep sleepers, they should use some warning device (such as a cow bell on the child?s door) that will signal the parents that their night wanderer is leaving the room. Consistently tell the child that if they wake at night and cannot go back to sleep, they can read or color quietly in their room, but they are not to come out of their bedroom. It is important to praise the child every morning when they stayed in their bedroom throughout the night. Remember, while the youngster may tell you that they "are afraid" or "had a bad dream." they are also being manipulative and testing the limits placed upon them. Dr. Goldstein says: "When the child leaves their bedroom at night, they have lost the limits parents placed on them. It stands to reason that by returning the child to their bed at night, parents are taking another important step in teaching their child how to control themselves."
* Source: Bruce A. Epstein, M.D., All Children?s Hospital
Bedtime Problems
First, determine an appropriate time based on the child?s sleep requirements and the parents needs for some time without children. Once this time is established, parents need to develop a bedtime ritual for their child that runs a half hour or so. This ritual helps make the transition from day to night and associates bedtime with something routine and good. Fixed bedtime rituals include taking a bath, changing into pajamas, brushing the teeth, reading a story, doing a puzzle, or just talking about their day. Most children feel that bedtime is their best time to talk to their parents, and a conversation with your youngster is always worthwhile. Tussling, tickling, or other stimulation horse play needs to be avoided at this time. When possible, most of the bedtime ritual should take place in the child?s bedroom so that when the ritual is over the parent leaves the bedroom instead of the child leaving the family room. Both parents should take turns with this special time and never cancel the ritual as punishment for misbehavior earlier in the day.
* Source: Bruce A. Epstein, M.D., All Children?s Hospital