Developing Better Sleep Habits

Having trouble getting your little one to sleep? Check out these tips to help them catch some zzz's.

If you have children, you know that getting them to sleep at night isn’t always the easiest task. We’ve all had those nights where our little ones struggle to stay awake as we struggle to get them in bed. The tired days that follow are always hard, especially on our children.

According to Dr. Garret Shaw of MCH&HS’s Cottonwood Clinic, children who don’t get enough sleep can develop sleep issues including fears of the dark or monsters, night walking and getting up too early in the morning.
 
To help develop better sleep habits, whether it is your infant or your preschool aged child, follow these tips from Mayoclinic.com:
 
Encourage Daily Activity. According to Mayoclinic.com, “Stimulation during the day can help promote better sleep at night.” Making your child’s daily activities different than those at night will help them understand what bedtime is.
 
Monitor napping. Naps are important, but sleeping for too long may keep your child awake at night.
 
Have a consistent routine. “Try relaxing favorites such as bathing, cuddling, singing or reading,” says Mayoclinic.com. Your children will begin to associate these activities with sleep.
 
Give time to settle down. Baby’s can be fussy before falling a sleep. “Your reassuring presence may be all your baby needs to fall asleep,” says Mayoclinic.com. Even toddler and pre-school aged children need time to relax before bedtime.
 
Expect frequent stirring at night. Babies and children often move around in their sleep and can also be noisy. This may only be a sign of settling down.
 
At night, keep infant care low-key. If you baby needs care during the night, “use dim lights, a soft voice and calm movements,” says Mayoclinic.com. “This will tell your baby that it’s time to sleep, not play.
 
Say “no” to bed sharing. This can make it difficult for your child to sleep on his or her own. “Bed sharing also may increase your baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS).
 
For additional support to help instill better sleep habits in your child, contact your MCH&HS physician. Additional sleep tips can also be found on www.mayoclinic.com.
 
Find out how many hours of sleep your child should be getting in the latest Community Pulse, MCH&HS quarterly newsletter.