Does your child wake up often at night? They repeat the same scenario and you don’t know what to do anymore?
The first thing to know is that it is normal for a child to wake up 3 to 4 times a night. Adults also have micro-awakening that we may not remember. In general, a child’s sleep is managed between 6 and 12 months. Of course, this is to be seen on a case-by-case basis, but we can hope that they will sleep through the night at this age.
The causes of a child’s awakening
- 20% organic causes: So these causes must be ruled out (sore teeth, an ear infection, a fever, etc.).
- 80% behavioral reasons: So it is important to ask the right questions: Is it new? How often? What is he doing? What is the parents’ reaction?
The problem of sleep is increasing in our society, and is causing stress that complicates the lives of families. Parents are often lost, do not know how to react when their little one does not sleep well, and yet, there is unfortunately no miracle solution. You must try to stay zen and above all, to trust your child in full development.
Do not judge, blame or compare
In the field of behavior and not organics, it is important to listen to the child and the parents, to observe, to communicate. Then, the parents and the child must find a method that is their own and that suits them. The baby is a person who understands, so you must be able to communicate with your child, our pediatrician emphasizes.
It is not only necessary to explain things, but in addition to that, it is important to solve the night problems during the day! Indeed, at night, the intelligent brain sleeps, so it will lead to nothing but trying to change things in this kind of condition. And during the day, agree with your spouse that each will get up one night in two, for example, or the method that you will use the next time your baby wakes up in order to avoid conflicts at night and to have a previously decided course of action.
I advise against taking the child into the bed, feeding them at night, turning on the TV to put on a short film, but it all depends on each person, you cannot impose a particular method! And we cannot judge the behavior of each parent, each has their own cultures, traditions and their own way of educating. We must not judge, blame or compare. It’s a tough job being a parent.
Additional points:
- If you are concerned about your child’s sleep, talk to your doctor.
- There are many resources available to help parents with sleep problems, such as books, websites, and support groups.
- Be patient and consistent with your sleep training methods. It may take some time for your child to adjust.
