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Toddler troubles
One of the major sleeping
problems toddlers face as they
grow older is bedwetting (and
sometimes soiling) – at a rough
guess, 25% of three year-olds
and one in six five year-olds
Bedtime blues
wet their bed regularly.
Babies and young children
Why they do this is not exactly
spend much of their time
clear – some children just take
asleep… or at least they should! longer to stay dry at night while
However, sleeping problems
others might be worried about
often occur, even with the most something. The key to dealing
laid back child.
with this successfully is not to
get angry and stressed as this
will only make things worse for
everyone.
All babies and toddlers (and
parents!) need their sleep but
sometimes things happen that
make this difficult. We look at
the most common problems
and how to tackle them.
• Ask your child to try to go to
the loo before bedtime
• Talk to them to see if anything
is bothering or worrying them
• Keep relaxed (even though
it’s hard!) – a stressed parent
will only add to the problem
• Praise your child when they
do make it through a night
without bedwetting
• If you are worried at any time,
book an appointment with
your GP or health visitor to
discuss the situation.
Sweet dreams
Usually there is a reason for
the disruption and the following
steps should help get things
back on track:
• Get into a routine: most
babies thrive on routine and
a special one for bedtime can
help get them to wind down.
• From as young as six weeks
of age, you can implement the
three B’s – bath, bottle/breast
and bed – a tried and tested
method and throw in a story
or two to help them drift off
happily.
•Light up at night: if your child
is scared of the dark then a
small nightlight will help, as
will a few of their favourite toys
in the cot.
• Trust yourself: sometimes,
the above technique takes a
little while to take effect. Keep
practising it and trust in your
own abilities to do it and to
know if your child is crying
from illness, hunger, or is just
objecting to the new routine.
• Get some sleep if possible:
ask a good and trusted family
member or friend to look after
your baby so you can catch up
on your sleep. You’re important
too!
If you think that your child
might have a serious sleep
problem and the family is
becoming unhappy and
regularly disrupted,
then talk to your GP
or health visitor
for advice.