Your little one’s getting out of bed and climbing into yours. Or your 6-year-old wake ups screaming in the middle of the night. Should you just permit bed-sharing? Why does your boy snore so much? 
With little ones, the precious commodity known as sleep confounds parents nightly. You’re often in search of what will work to improve your child’s sleep, so we’ve put together some tips from other parents who have been there. Meanwhile, if you’ve tried everything and your convinced your child’s sleep issues are wrapped up in a disorder, find local resources below.
Savvy Tips for Kid Sleep
- Even if you don’t want your child sleeping in your bed, you can put a futon or cot at the end of your bed so if your child wakes in the night he can come and sleep on it without waking you up.
- Some kids just need to feel the presence of “something” — a body pillow may be just the thing.
- Have you tried a Sleep-Training Clock? It uses simple light-up pictures of a sun and start to differentiate between day and night. You set the times for the images to change.
- Sometimes being tucked in tight works for children. If a child feels snug, it may help to give him a good night’s sleep.
- Take turns with nighttime parenting if your child is very wakeful.
- Try taping your voice reading a bed time story so your child can listen to you even if you’re not there.
- Read bedtime books and keep on reading. Often a child will just nod off if you offer to keep reading.
- Keep nap times short during the day so night time sleep goes better.
- Go ahead and try a nightlight if your child is scared of a dark room.
- Massage is a deep soother for anybody. Use a massage oil (a couple of drops).
- Know that the blue light that emits from digital screens can delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. That’s why it’s smart to impose a digital curfew on your kids before you start a bedtime routine.
- Did you know that sleep is important to your overall health? Read about the research in this piece by slumbersecrets.com.
Local Resources for Kid Sleep
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Sleep Disorder Program
Board-certified pediatric sleep specialists treat children and teens with airway-related sleep problems. The program treats altered sleep patterns, incomnias, night terrors, sleep walking, sleep apnea, breathing problems, snoring and narcolepsy.
The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial
Tennessee Center for Sleep ………… St. Thomas Health
Child patients are guided by physicians and technologists with specialities in pediatric services.
Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee Three locations in the area.
Info Parent Sheet on Kids’ Sleep ……….. The National Sleep Foundation Save
