Establishing Good Sleeping Habits

Even children who sleep through the night can develop bad sleeping habits. Tricia O'Brien, Features Editor for American Baby Magazine, has some ideas to get your child back on track.

Just like adults, every child has a bad night's sleep now and then. If your child isn't sleeping well for two or three nights, though, it might be time to take some action. There are reasons for your child's behavior, and each one has a different solution.

First, your child may be sick. "All the experts say sleep rules go out the window when the baby is sick," says O'Brien. "You need care for them and just comfort them." Once your child is feeling better, though, it's important to return to their pre-illness sleep pattern.

Distractions can also upset a baby's sleep schedule. If a child's routine is thrown off by visitors, new noises or a new sleeping location - such as a different crib on vacation - he or she won't be able to sleep. Do your best to keep your child on their normal schedule. They'll adjust eventually, but it may take a few days. Keep in mind that if you're traveling across time zones, O'Brien recommends slowly adjusting your child to the new time a week before the trip. Every day, put your child to bed one hour earlier or later until your son or daughter is sleeping soundly.

New siblings also disrupt sleeping schedules. "One thing that can happen is, parents are attending to this new baby and they sort of forget about the routine that the older child needs," says O'Brien. It's really important to pay attention to that." Do your best to calm any fears your older children may have about their new, younger sibling.

If there aren't any new distractions in your household, you may need to adjust your bedtime routine. First, it's important to put your child down to sleep while they are still awake. Watch for signs of sleepiness like yawning and rubbing of eyes. Once you see these signs, put them to bed. Trying to get an over-tired child to sleep is nearly impossible; instead, they'll be cranky, fussy and resistant. If you catch them before this stage, you're better off.

Plus, "You want to teach a child to fall asleep independently on their own," says O'Brien. "Kids wake in the night between three and six times." If your child can fall asleep on their own without your help, they'll be able to soothe themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night without calling for you.

From infancy, do your best to establish a consistent bedtime routine. "Think of the B's," says O'Brien. "You want bath, book and then a bottle... or a breast," says O'Brien. By performing these steps every night, your child will begin to realize that these are signs that it's bed time.

Keep in mind that a well-rested child is a happier, less fussy child. Ensure your child gets enough rest each night, and, depending on their age, takes naps during the day. If your child sleeps well each night, you will too.

For more information on sleep habits, as well as additional parenting advice, click here to visit www.AmericanBaby.com.

By Erin Petrun By Erin Petrun