3 Steps Parents Can Take to Help Their Child Get the Sleep They Need

Overtired children need their parents' help to get their sleep back on track. Contrary to some beliefs, it isn't necessary to place your infant or toddler in their crib or bed and let them cry it out in for them to get the sleep that they need. There are many ways that parents can facilitate a healthy sleep environment for their children. Overtired children need their parents' attention and help in the quest to get the amount of sleep that they need to function and develop appropriately.

Help the overtired child by forming a consistent and structured sleep routine for bedtime and naptime, if applicable. This doesn't mean that you can't be flexible. If some night's your child has had a long day and is ready for bed earlier, or if some days naptime was a bit lengthy and is able to stay up a bit later, you can and should address this \appropriately. But there should be a bedtime routine in your household that allows time for unwinding and predictability. For infants this can be as simple as the four B's: bath, book, breastfeeding, bedtime. For older children you may need to adapt this slightly and incorporate time for cleaning up toys, brushing your teeth, placing a cup of water on the nightstand, etc. Whatever parents find works for them and their child is fine, but stick with it. Being consistent with a bedtime routine gives children the predictability that they need and helps them prepare for what's coming next--sleep. A naptime routine that is a shorter version of the bedtime routine has always worked well for my children.

Help the overtired child by being attentive to their needs and behavior throughout the day, not just at bedtime. When children awaken earlier than usual, parents should expect to have to adapt plans and schedules to avoid their child becoming overtired. Watch your child carefully for signs that they are becoming tired, and don't miss the perfect bedtime window. If you wait too long, your child may get a second wind and it will be more difficult to help them ease into their bedtime routine. By paying attention to your child and their cues, parents can avoid the overtired child, who may become whiny, clingy, and have a harder time falling asleep.

Consider what happens when your overtired child awakens in the middle of the night or early in the morning. It isn't necessary to let your child cry it out, but it also is important to remember that if you get up with your 5 year old child at 3 in the morning and let them watch cartoons they'll learn to wake up at 3 am to watch cartoons. If night wakings are part of your overtired child's problem, remember to keep things dark, quiet, and reinforce that it's nighttime or bedtime. Comfort your child, let them come to bed with you, or do whatever it takes to help your child get back to sleep. Overtired children need sleep, even if they are waking up and seem wide awake.

As parents, it's important to remember that we do know best when it comes to our children. Helping them get the sleep that they need can avoid common misbehaviors in childhood, as well as set the stage for good sleep habits later in life.