Three Tips to Get Children with Sleeping Problems Asleep

According to the American Sleep Association 70% of all babies and infants at one time or another suffer from sleeping difficulties. So if bed time is a difficult time for you and your baby you are in good company. Rest assured that there is probably nothing wrong but of course when you are in doubt seek professional care. Jodi Mindell, a researcher and sleep expert at the Institute, has 3 tips for worried parents.

Put your baby to bed when he/she is sleepy but not yet asleep. That way you teach your infant to fall a sleep by himself. When baby is able to do that around bedtime chances are he or she will wake up once or twice per night. But because the baby is trained or used to falling asleep in his own bed you don't have to "rock or swing" him to sleep. Going back to sleep comes naturally. And you will be much fitter the next day.

Define a strict bedtime regimen. That way your child learns to get "tired" every afternoon and evening at about the same time. Also it's a good idea to extend this predictability to other areas of the baby's life. Certainty and safety will make the baby more relaxed and will help him to grow to be a healthy adult. Make sure your baby does go to bed early enough. Exhausted babies have trouble falling asleep.

Make strict use sleep rituals Start at a young age with a bed time routine. Use a specific system in which three or four activities are always done in the same order. For example, wash first, then put on pajamas, and last but not least a bedtime story or song. That way you create a predictable order of activities that make the change from daytime activity to the slower pace of going to bed more gradual.

If you want to know more about this interesting topic read Jodi Mindell's book "Sleeping through the Night". In my opinion this book is a must-read for parents who worry about the sleeping habits of their little one. The book is very readable and is packed with tips, tricks and explanations.
One warning never give young children a sleeping pill unless you really have discussed this deeply with your general practioner.

Linda is an inspired author of the Baby Strollers Guide and the Baby Products Guide she is a mother of two and spend a lot of time next to her child's bed.

---

Choosing a Daycare or Pre-School ? Top Ten Safety Tips

When it's time to put your child into a daycare... Read More

Would You Know if Your Child Were Being Bullied? 4 Tips to Keep Them From Becoming a Victim

The 21st Century Problem in Schools: Bullying, and How to... Read More

Maturing As a Parent

I have three children, ages 19 and 16 (yes, the... Read More

10 Points on Children for the New Parent

I remember when my daughter was born, later my son.... Read More

Helping Your Children Develop Their Self-Discipline

We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More

Pregnancy and Excercising - 6 Reasons to Excercise During Pregnancy

Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health. Exercising... Read More

Tracking Your Child Progress

As a parent, you can learn a lot about your... Read More

Finding Out Your Child Has a Disability: Its Not the end of the World

Finding out that a child has been born with a... Read More

Busy Moms, Dont Forget to Take Time Out for You!

As mothers, we play so many different roles and most... Read More

Dads, Handle your Kids Mistakes

One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More

Confident Children - Avoid Overparenting

For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More

Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Blackmail

Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part... Read More

Joining a Gang: How to Help Kids Prevent it, How to Tell if Theyve Joined One, How to Help Them Out

While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been traced... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: The Teenager and the Gorilla

Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More

Managing Sibling Rivalry

It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: When is it OK to Quit?

Q. My daughter is a junior in high school and... Read More

Mommie Moments ? Taking Time For Yourself

Being a parent is a role that requires a large... Read More

Missing The Bus

As a step daughter and step grand daughter, I followed... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: 6 Tips for Dealing with Bad Report Cards

One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More

Your Job as a Role Model

A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More

Beginning the Special Education Process

Like anything else in life, there's a method to the... Read More

How Public Schools Coerce Parents Into Giving Mind-Altering Drugs To Their Children

Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin, public school authorities... Read More

Wholism and Materialism

Perhaps I could make a lot of money by founding... Read More

Lets Not Hurry Children Through Childhood

Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More

Help My Preteen/Teenager is Driving Me Nuts!

Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More

Are You Reading to Your Kids?

Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More

A Chart for Everything

For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More

Cloning; is it for you?

What would it be like to have a clone? What... Read More

Awesome Dads Top Ten Communication Intentions

An Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that... Read More

Am I Really A Stroller-Monger?

I was reading "A Modern Infant Armada", a humor column... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: The Trust Issue

Q. How do we decide what our teens should be... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids

Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More

How to Cope With Colic

When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More