OUR BELIEVES AND PRACTICES

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Is your child having trouble getting a sleep at Night?

Let take a look at the listed point below this could really help in getting over this.


• Have a routine. Your child should know when bedtime is. It should not happen on the couch, the floor, in the car, or in your bed. Bedtime should be the child's bed, and it should be the same time every night (not just when she falls asleep from exhaustion). She should do the same quiet and relaxing things every night before bed (bath or shower, put on pajamas, have a snack and read a book, brush teeth, say prayers perhaps, choose a bedtime friend, then snuggle for a few minutes (you might sing a quiet song or tell another quick story of your own--especially a funny or happy store about family), before turning out the lights.

• Have a quiet period before bedtime. Turn off the television and video games, and put away noisy toys. Read a few books together, play a quiet board or card game, or put together a puzzle. Avoid discussing contentious issues, and let children say goodnight to everyone and anything that suits them. Don't put a TV in your child's room, and if a toy is too tempting to ignore, remove it from the bedroom as well. Give a brief countdown so that bedtime doesn't sneak up ("5 minutes, 3 minutes, 1 minute...").

• Don't brook argument. Your child should know that no amount of complaint changes bedtime. Make sure that only very, very special occasions change bedtime. Avoid turning bedtime into a fight, an argument, or a game. It just is. When it's bedtime, refuse to engage in debates or games. If your child "just won't go to bed," it's because you aren't making it happen.

• Children are susceptible to gentle suggestion. "I know you're very sleepy" will work wonders on her little body, which will begin to say to itself, "Gee, yes, I am sleepy."

• Bring a friend. Children sometimes feel lonely or scared in their beds all by themselves. Let them choose a special stuffed animal or toy to go to sleep with (but make sure this is not a noisy toy or one that can be turned on). You can hang a dreamcatcher on the wall Install a night light in the corner (or glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling) to chase away dark shadows. Also, a family picture and pictures of favorite people placed carefully on the dresser (or a guardian angel somewhere in the room) can help make them feel loved and safe.

• Get him to relax. Your child can get muscle aches and tensions just like anyone else. Soothe him by rubbing his back, shoulders or forehead. Make sure your child isn't hungry (some people can't sleep when they're hungry), but make sure bedtime snacks are healthy and fairly light. Don't give him caffeinated soda or anything sugary or heavy.

• Avoid staying until the child is asleep. Your children need to learn to go to sleep on their own. It can help to cuddle and let them feel your body warmth, but resist staying there until they're asleep. Get them to bed before they go to sleep, stay for a while, and then when you feel them relax and start to breathe deeply, kiss them goodnight, tuck them in, give one more hug, and then leave.

• Give them water. Some children cannot sleep when they're thirsty. If your child needs water to drink in the middle of the night, leave a sippy cup on the floor or nightstand. Resist withholding water just so that your child sleeps through the night. Your child can learn to wake up and go to the bathroom, then go back to bed. If your child has a problem with wetting the bed, however, see your pediatrician for suggestions on how to handle the issue without allowing your child to become dehydrated.

• Check medications. Some medications, such as those commonly prescribed for ADHD, can cause sleep problems. (Interestingly, research shows that insufficient sleep can cause behavior problems similar to those attributed to ADHD. If a sleepy child is misdiagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medication, therefore, the medication has the potential to simply worsen the situation).

• Find out what's wrong. If all else fails, and your child is still reluctant to go to bed, make sure there isn't another issue troubling her. Perhaps she's afraid. Perhaps she has an unresolved issue or worry and needs some discussion about it or reassurance. Perhaps she has allergies and cannot breathe. Perhaps there are loud noises coming from the house next door. Perhaps her bed is not comfortable. Perhaps she feels threatened (a common indicator of sexual or other physical abuse, for example, is difficulty sleeping). Perhaps she can hear someone in the house arguing. Or, perhaps her sleep is disturbed by a physical issue such as sleep apnea, restless-legs syndrome, night terrors, nightmares, or sleepwalking.

No comments:

Post a Comment