Children’s needs are so different when it comes to sleep, it’s difficult to say what’s normal and what’s not. In young children, it may take a long rime for them to fall into sleeping habits. And while one new baby might sleep on and off for twenty hours a day and through the night, another only naps for an hour or two at a time. Some toddlers need only one nap a day while others need two. Older children may vary their hours depending on what’s happening in their life at a certain time. If your child doesn’t sleep much, but is perfectly happy and coping with daily school work, then there’s no need to worry. But if your child suddenly develops new night-time habits such as waking through the night, being unable or afraid to go to sleep, or starts sleepwalking, there may be an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
What you can do
If your baby does not sleep much, get all the help you can. Take it in turns with your partner to get up during the night. Make sure there are plenty of toys or books in the cot or bed for older children to play with if they wake up. If a child has developed sleeping difficulties, try to talk to them during the day to find out if they are anxious about anything. A new sibling, troubles with a playmate, bullying at school or worries about homework may all contribute and night waking may be their way of seeking attention. Reassure your child when putting them to bed – read a cheerful story, give them a warm, milky drink and let them know you love them and are close.
Treatment
Hypnotherapy
Studies have shown hypnosis to be effective in getting people to sleep more quickly. It has also been shown to have lasting effects on sleepwalkers. Hypnotherapists use the unconscious mind so the patient can learn, without being aware of learning. With sleeping difficulties this can be used to help a child go to sleep without problems and stop the need to wake during the night or to sleepwalk. A hypnotherapist is likely to try and help the child disassociate bedtime as a difficult time and instead suggest positive images of night and sleep. Aromatherapy A warm bath, using a couple of drops of oils with relaxing and soothing qualities, such as Chamomile, Ylang-ylang or Sandalwood, just before putting your child to bed should help to calm them. A practitioner may also recommend a massage oil containing Chamomile, Mandarin or Palma Rosa, to be applied last thing at night to relax your child.
Osteopathy
An osteopath may relate a baby’s sleeping difficulties back to a difficult birth, when the process of labour suppressed the baby’s cranial system. This can cause crying, irritability and discomfort, leading to sleeping difficulties. An osteopath may therefore work on the cranial area to relieve any pressure.
Bach Flower Remedies
Children who seem quite happy during the day but become restless at night may be worried but putting a brave face on things, so a practitioner may recommend Agrimony. Open apprehension about something they can name may be helped by Mimulus, while a vague anxiety with no specific cause would need Aspen. If there is a lot of change going on in the child’s life, such as a house move or a parental divorce, then Walnut may help. And Vervain would benefit those children who get so enthusiastic about things that they stay awake long after their bodies are exhausted.
Other therapies that may be beneficial: acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine.
