Transition from sleep patterns of a baby to sleep pattern of a toddler is definitely difficult for parents to cope up with. But as a parent of toddler you must understand his sleeping needs. Toddler sleeps less during the day, but need sleep of about 11 or more hours at night.

 Up to 20 percent of children might have sleep disorder. The most common problem is difficulty falling asleep.

 As per a study, children suffering from depression and anxiety disorders have more sleep problems. The study also suggests that for a small percentage of children, sleep problems might represent a pre-cursor or early symptom of a more serious emotional disorder, including anxiety and depression. So in childhood, considerable attention needs to be paid to the interrelation between sleep patterns and emotional disorders.

 What are the sleep problems toddlers faces?

Here are most of the sleep problems which need parents’ attention.

1. Bedtime resistance and refusal to go to bed
2. Childhood depression, anxiety or trauma
3. Intestinal worms
4. ‘Nocturnal Enuresis’ or bedwetting – It is a hereditary disorder.
5. Constant and abrupt night awakenings
6. ‘Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome’ i.e. snoring, difficulty in breathing or mouth breathing during sleep. It affects 1-3 percent of the children. The main causes of sleep apnea are obesity and neuromuscular disease.
7. ‘Narcolepsy’ or difficulty in waking up in the morning – This toddler sleep disorder have a great difficulty in getting up in the mornings. When awaken the child may appear to be mystified or may be destructive or even can be verbally abusive.
8. Excessive coughing and sweating at night.
9. Night terrors (accompanied by screams and shouts) occur for some time into sleep. The child suddenly sits upright and screams, and is devastated for up to 30 minutes and then falling back to sleep.
10. Sleep-walking and Sleep-talking at night – In this stage, a child sits up in bed with eyes open but is unseeing.

The best way to deal with toddler’s sleep problems for the very first time is to set consistent bedtime routine.

 A consistent bedtime routine set for infants and toddlers helps parents to get their kids sleep better. The practical benefit of this is for the mothers as well. The mothers who use a regular bedtime routine to help their infants and toddlers get to sleep are usually less depressed, and feel less fatigue and tension.

 A specific bedtime routine to follow can include a bath, the application of massage oil or skin lotion and other restful activities like listening to music, bed time story etc. Follow specific bedtimes and times for turning out the lights. Be consistent in doing so. . If you put your child to bed at 8:30 p.m. one night and 9:30 p.m. the next, chances are, the child won’t be tired when you want her to sleep next day.

 After consistently following the bedtime routine, children will start falling asleep more quickly, waking up less frequently, and fell back asleep more quickly in few days. Kids will also wake up in a better mood in the morning.

1. By following a nightly bedtime ritual, he knows about what is expected of him and what to expect at night.
2. Some children go to sleep more easily with white noise from a fan or sound machine. You can play some soothing music in a very low volume, to ease the atmosphere, before your child goes to sleep.
3. Massaging your toddler for 15 minutes before bed time makes your toddler to sleep.
4. Create calm, soothe, secure and pleasant sleep environment for toddler sleep. Maintain the room temperature between 60 and 65 F. See that the blinds and windows are closed and the fan/AC is properly adjusted.
5. Turn off the lights in your bedroom.
6. Offer your child a cup of warm milk before going to bed. This may help him get to sleep.
7. Provide a stuffed animal or a soft toy if your child sleeps alone. It will make him feel secure. Leave the door open for a toddler to feel secure.
8. If your child will go to bed only if you are around, then teach him how to soothe himself to sleep.
9. Don’t ridicule your child’s fears or tell her there’s nothing to be afraid of. Toddlers have vivid imaginations, and to them, their fears are very real. Just reassure him that nothing will hurt him and he is safe.
10. If your child gets out of his bed and leaves his room after he’s been put to bed, quietly take him back to his room and put him in his bed. Do not scold him. In fact, it’s best to say nothing at all. Talking to your child just encourages her to keep getting up. It may take many times of putting him back in his bed before he stays there, but your persistence will eventually pay off.
11. Never engage in games and activities that give a boost to your toddler’s activity level before bedtime.
12. Make sure that the dim lights are turned on. It is always better not to make your toddler sleep in total darkness.
13. Make sure your child winds down before bed; this will make the transition from lively toddler to sleeping child easier.

While dealing with waking too early, some caution must be taken as your child must be very sensitive to changes in his surroundings.

1. Use thick blinds or curtains to make children’s rooms darker so the morning light doesn’t wake them.
2. Provide safe toys for your child to play with in the mornings, so he can play quietly until he hears the rest of the family is awake.
3. If your child’s a natural early riser, you may just have to be patient
4. Once children start nursery or school, they tend to sleep for longer.

For the children waking in the night, you will need to take care of few things.

1. Be realistic and remember everyone’s sleep needs and patterns vary – some people need eight hours or more, others can manage on five or six and this creates a different picture of what ’sleeping through’ means, even in one family.
2. If you’ve always rocked, stroked or sung your child to sleep when he first goes to bed, he may find it difficult to get back to sleep on his own if he wakes in the night.
3. When you go in to comfort him, keep the lights low and use a soft voice – don’t encourage play (you’ll probably need to do this several times).

Sleep issues with your toddler can be very frustrating, but it’s a normal process that nearly every child goes through. With a little bit of time and patience, you can help your child conquer this problem!

 Try out these tips and provide a relaxing night-time atmosphere for your toddler. If you still continue to observe similar sleep pattern of the child, it is better to consult and seek guidance from a pediatrician.

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