PUTTING BEDTIME PROBLEMS TO REST

Fear of Sleeping

Fear of sleeping – including nightmares and being afraid of the dark – is a very common issue with young children. Unfortunately, it's also a common cause of bedtime disruptions and sleepless nights for Mom and Dad.

Following proper “sleep hygiene” is very important when it comes to getting a young child off to sleep on time. It can also play a role in calming a child's fear of sleeping by creating a familiar atmosphere at bedtime. After all, fear of the dark is really fear of the unknown.

There are several small things you can do to help a young child overcome fear of the dark and nightmares. One is to make up a bottle of "monster spray." Add a few drops of lemon juice to some water and put it in a spray bottle. Before bed, go around the bedroom with your child and spray the mixture behind the door and under the bed – any other place "monsters" can hide. (Explain to your child that monsters hate sour things like lemon juice.) When you’re finished, tell your child the spray will be put away until the next bedtime. It should become part of the bedtime routine, but you don't want your child interrupting you in the middle of the night for another squirt.

You also can "tour" your child's bedroom with him or her during the day, making sure you look in every nook and cranny to demonstrate there's nothing to be afraid of when the lights go out.

Another simple trick is to plug in a little nightlight in your child's room. This will give just enough light to banish fears while allowing enough darkness for your child to sleep. Be aware, however, that nightlights in dark rooms can cast odd shadows; if possible, position the light so it partially illuminates the room but doesn’t create “scary” shadows.

Fighters, Criers, and Midnight Fliers

Your child won't sleep. All he or she does is throw a fit or cry when you try to leave the bedroom. Or, once you think your child is tucked in and off to sleep, he or she unexpectedly shows up in your bedroom, wanting to crawl under the covers with you.

It’s frustrating, especially if any of these behaviors are happening every night. But the good news is that there some good strategies for ending, or at least significantly reducing, the challenges that can keep everyone from getting the sleep they need.

Before you put those strategies to use, though, it's a good idea to make an appointment with your child's pediatrician to rule out any medical reasons for negative bedtime behaviors, especially crying and refusing to go to sleep.