Tips for Helping Preschoolers Sleep Well

• Maintain a regular and consistent sleep schedule
• Follow-through with a bedtime routine every night
• The child should sleep in the same sleeping environment every night. It should be cool, quiet, dark and without a TV
• Watch for difficulty breathing, unusual nighttime awakenings, chronic sleep problems, and behavioral problems during the day

Tips for Helping Toddlers Sleep Well

• Maintain a daily sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine.
• The bedroom environment should be the same every night and throughout the night
• Set limits
• Encourage use of security object

Tips for Newborns

• Observe the baby's sleep patterns and identify signs of sleepiness
• Put baby in the crib when drowsy, not asleep
• Place baby to sleep on his/her back with face and head clear of blankets and other soft items
• The crib should be safety approved
• A quiet and dark room at a comfortable temperature is best for sleep
• Encourage nighttime sleep

Managing Common Sleep Problems

• Bedtime Struggles- Limit Setting Disorder
  • Nighttime Awakenings
• Nightmares
  • Sleep Terrors
  • Sleepwalking
  • Sleeptalking

Sleep Disorders in Children are Treatable

Sleep Problem/Disorder:

• Snoring
• Sleep Apnea
• Insomnia
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Narcolepsy

Symptoms

Snoring- Airway passage is partially blocked and air from the nose or throat passes around the blockage causing throat structures to vibrate against each other and cause the snoring noise.

Sleep Apnea- Partial or complete obstruction in the airway leading to pauses in breathing. The child gasps to resume breathing.

Insomnia- Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep.

Restless Legs Syndrome- Unpleasant, tingling, or creepycrawly feelings in the legs with an irresistible urge to move

Narcolepsy

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• involuntary sleep attacks during the day
• can include: cataplexy or sudden loss of muscle tone in response to emotion; sleep paralysis; hypnagogic hallucinations; disturbed nighttime sleep

General Tips for All Children

• Establish a regular sleep/wake schedule
• Recognize signs of sleepiness in your child
• Understand that sleep needs and patterns change
• Follow a 20-30 minute relaxing bedtime routine
• Bedroom should be quiet, dark and cool
• Have a light snack (no caffeine) before bed
• Quiet activities (no television) are more conducive to falling asleep
• Exercise daily
• Get good nutrition
• Children should nap according to age and sleep needs

Talk to Your Child's Doctor if Any of the Following Symptoms are Observed:

• A newborn or infant is extremely and consistently fussy
• A child is having problems breathing or breathing is noisy
• A child snores, especially if the snoring is loud
• Unusual nighttime awakenings
• Difficulty falling asleep and maintaining sleep, especially if you see daytime sleepiness and/or behavioral problems