6 Sleep Problems Keeping Children and Parents Awake (and Advice on Solving Them)

Various factors can trigger sleep problems and other night-time disturbances that make bedtime difficult for both parents and children. However, how and when these sleep problems appear will depend on the child's development and age.

But how can parents know if they are dealing with these issues the correct way instead of perpetuating them even longer?

Here, we'll list six of the most common sleep problems that keep children awake – and a few solutions for sleep-deprived parents to help their children to get the good night's sleep they deserve.

Sleep Problem #1: Rhythmic Movement Disorder

Have you ever found your child sleeping with their feet on the pillow when you wake them up in the morning? This could be a sign of rhythmic movement disorder. This sleep problem goes beyond the typical tossing and turning and can include head-banging and body-rocking. However, the children remain entirely unaware of it!

Bruises aside, this should not be a huge concern unless parents think that some type of emotional anxiety might be the culprit (the arrival of a new sibling, for example).

How To Solve Rhythmic Movement Disorder?

• Give your child plenty of rhythmical activities during the day, in the playground equipment or even musical instruments for children.

• Try to ignore this during the night, if possible. Giving the child plenty of attention during the day might ease the process at night.

Most children will outgrow rhythmic movement disorder by the age of 4.

Sleep Problem #2: Nightmares & Night Terrors

Although scary, nightmares and night terrors are usually nothing to worry about. One-quarter of children have one nightmare a week when aged between 3 and 6, and they can cause them great distress. Remember that children can't always differentiate between a dream and reality.

On the other hand, night terrors tend to be more disturbing for the parents than for the child. This is because they can hear them cry, moan, or even scream. Even if their eyes are open, they are not fully awake! They usually happen in children between 3 and 8 years old and seem to be hereditary.

In a future post, we'll look at how to differentiate between nightmares and night terrors in detail!

How To Solve Nightmares & Night Terrors?

• Keep a steady and relaxing bedtime routine without stress or stimulants like sugar or caffeine.

• If your child has recurring nightmares, it might be worth talking about the theme with them in the morning. Help them think of a happy ending for it.

• If your child calls you after a nightmare, comfort them until they are calm again.

• When a parent notices a night terror, the best solution is to do nothing. If it's too intense, stir the child gently but don't wake them up.

Sleep Problem #3: Inappropriate Sleep Associations

Most parents have faced this sleep problem at some point. Frustrated with a messy bedtime routine, they resort to associations that are not sustainable in the long term – or they might even start when a parent feeds or rocks a baby that wakes up in the middle of the night. Special blankets, a special teddy, or even singing and lying down on the child's bed, are other examples. As the child grows, the parents end up reinforcing this dependency.

Avoid future bedtime battles and fix this sleep problem as soon as you notice it!

How To Solve Inappropriate Sleep Associations?

• Introduce and maintain a bedtime routine.

• Persist, persist, persist!

Sleep Problem #4: Sleep-walking

A sleep disturbance that worries lots of parents, sleepwalking can be relatively standard and the actual risks, rather low. It seems to affect boys more often than girls, and often between the ages of 2 and 6.

Sleepwalking can be caused by the child's maturing neurological system or sleep deprivation.

How To Solve Sleepwalking?

• Make sure your child gets enough (and good-quality) sleep.

• Don't wake them up: this might scare them! Guide them back to bed.

• If you want to know if a child is sleepwalking, place a little bell by their door.

• If you suspect your child is sleepwalking, keep the floor clear of toys. Ensure the windows are closed and fix the stair gate if you have one.

Sleep Problem #5: Bet Wetting

One in ten children aged 4 will wet the bed at least once a week. Although most 3-year-olds will keep the bed dry most nights, this is a common sleep problem. After all, the urinary system is still learning how to produce less urine at night, and the children also have to learn how to wake up when they need to pee!

How To Solve Bed Wetting?

• Schedule bathroom breaks 2 to 3 hours before bedtime and another time just before bed.

• Some foods like chocolate or cocoa milk, citrus, dyes, and sugar can be bladder irritants. Avoid them from the late afternoon on.

• Reward their success! Encourage even more progress by celebrating every dry morning.

• But don't punish them: their bodies are still developing and learning how to coordinate different stimuli. Be patient with your children.

Sleep Problem #6: Tooth Grinding

This sleep problem seems to run in the family, so keep an eye out if you or your partner do it! In the short-term, tooth grinding can cause pain and headaches and disturb naps or night-time sleep.

How To Solve Tooth Grinding?

• Protect your child's teeth with a tooth guard. You can get it from your dentist – that will protect your child's teeth against over wear.

• If you suspect that stress is behind it, talk to your child. Chatting can help relieve any worry or anxiety.

These are a few of the sleep problems that can come up during your child's sleep routine. Most of them are not severe and will stop by the age of 6. However, if these issues continue further or in case of any other type of worry, consult your paediatrician or a sleep coach.