Sleep Issues & Toddlers Sleep Issues & Toddlers

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

Just when you thought your baby was sleep-trained, he reaches toddlerhood and starts resisting naps and waking up at night long before you are ready to get started for the day. Your toddler needs about 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, which includes both naps and sleeping at night. Sleep supports healthy growth and development and helps maintain a strong immune system.

Toddler teething and illnesses

such as ear infections and colds can disrupt your toddler’s sleep pattern. Cool mist humidifiers can help when your child has a cold. Check with your child’s pediatrician if you think the pain from teething or an illness is keeping your child awake. In some cases, the doctor may approve the administration of ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease the pain. Always follow the dosing instructions provided by the doctor. Not all health issues that disrupt sleep are immediately obvious, so if your toddler suddenly starts having sleep issues, a visit to the pediatrician can help rule out unseen health problems.

Big changes such as moving, getting a new sibling or starting a daycare can disrupt your toddler’s sleep pattern. Excitement and even some anxiety associated with the big change can keep your toddler up at night. Do your best to spend extra time with your toddler during the day to help her adjust to big changes. The change to and from daylight savings time each year can pose some sleep challenges for toddlers. Your toddler may not understand why he had to go to bed when it is still daylight outside.

Creating a consistent, soothing bedtime routine as best you can during a time of transition will help your toddler ease back into his sleep pattern. Even though a big change can cause a temporary disruption to your family’s daily routine, resist the temptation to let your toddler stay up late. A couple of hours before bedtime, start creating an environment that helps your toddler wind down for the day. Use blinds and shades to darken your toddler’s sleep environment if he has trouble falling asleep while it is still daylight outside.

If your toddler is so far off his schedule that he just is not sleepy at bedtime, ease him back into his schedule gradually by making bedtime 30 minutes earlier each day until his bedtime is back to where it should be.

Too much screen time

Allowing your toddler to use a tablet or watch TV too close to bedtime can be stimulating and keep your toddler awake. Spending time watching TV or on tablets can be overwhelming to children under the age of 18 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any sort of screen time for children under the age of 18 months and recommends limiting screen time for toddlers to a total of about 1 hour a day. Do not let your toddler have screen time within a couple of hours before bedtime.

Nightmares

Toddler nightmares can be frightening to your child. Nightmares tend to occur in the second half of sleep, in what is called REM sleep, when your toddler is dreaming. A nightmare may cause him to wake up screaming and crying. Reassure your toddler and comfort him but help him ease back to sleep instead of allowing him to get in your bed. Keeping a relaxing, consistent bedtime routine and limiting the amount of scary material your child sees during screentime can help reduce toddler nightmares. Consult your child’s doctor if, despite everything you try, your toddler’s sleep is severely disrupted by nightmares.