Here - Health Promotion Agency

Habits and behaviour
56
OTHER SLEEP
PROBLEMS
Nightmares
Most children have
nightmares at some stage.
They often begin between
the ages of 18 months and
3 years. Nightmares are not
usually a sign of emotional
disturbance but may occur if
your child is anxious about
something or has been
frightened by a television
programme or story.
After a nightmare your
child will need comforting
and reassuring. If your child
has a lot of nightmares and
you cannot find the cause,
talk to your GP or health
visitor.
Night terrors
These can begin under the
age of one, but are most
common in three–four-yearolds.
They usually start with
the child giving a scream or
thrashing about while still
asleep. He or she may sit up
and talk or look terrified
while still sleeping.
Night terrors normally have
no importance, and your
child will eventually grow
out of them. Don’t wake
your child during a terror,
but, if they happen at the
same time each night, try to
break the pattern by gently
waking your child up about
15 minutes beforehand.
Keep your child awake for a
few minutes before letting
him or her go back to sleep.
He or she will not remember
anything in the morning.
Don’t pick him or her up or take
him downstairs again. Put a child
who gets up back to bed again.
• Leave a drink of water within
reach and a dim light on if
necessary.
•
Don’t keep checking to see if
your child is asleep.
•
Be prepared to repeat this
routine for several nights. The
important thing is to be firm
and not to give in.
WAKING DURING THE NIGHT
By the time your child is six months
old, it is reasonable to expect him or
her to sleep through most nights.
However, up to half of all children
under five go through periods of
night waking. Some will just go
back to sleep on their own, others
will cry or want company. If this
happens, try to think why your child
is waking up and decide what you
want to do about it.
For example:
•
Is it hunger? A later feed or some
cereal last thing at night might help
your baby to sleep through the night.
• If your child seems afraid of the
dark, a nightlight should be given.
•
Is your child waking from fears or
bad dreams? If so, try to find the
reason.
• Is your child too hot or too cold?
If so the bedclothes or heat
should be adjusted.
If no cause is found, and your child
continues to wake and cry, or wants
company, here are some suggestions
for coping.
Scheduled waking
If your child wakes up at the same
time every night, try waking him or
her 15-60 minutes before this time
and then resettling them to sleep.
For some children this can help to
reduce night waking.
Let your child sleep in the same
room as a brother or sister
If you think your child is lonely, and
the brother or sister does not object,
putting children in the same room
can often result in them both
sleeping through the night.
Teach your child to fall back to
sleep alone
• Check everything is all right and
settle your child down with the
minimum of talking.
•
Do not give anything to eat, and
only water to drink if necessary.
• Do not take your child downstairs
or into the parental bed.
•
Leave your child and let him or
her cry for a short period.
• Repeat the above routine,
gradually extending the time
period before checking.
•
Continue the routine each night
until your child sleeps.
• Be prepared for this routine to
take several nights or even a week
or two before it is effective.