Sleep Management - Paediatrics

Sleep Management

·        Principles:

o  Sleep is a learned process – you train your baby to do it

o  After 6 months a night feed becomes a reward for waking up ® trained night waker

o  Parents also need time for themselves

·        For babies:

o  Night feeds: quick, quiet, dim light

o  Leave the baby to cry for a while

o  Wrap them well, then not woken by their own reflexes (eg startle reflex when lightly asleep)

·        Toddlers:

·        Evening routine: won‟t harm toddler if you‟re firm with bedtime routines. No energetic games beforehand

·        Approach to Sleep Training:

o   Agree with partner/family what you are going to do

o   Plan in advance (eg start on a long weekend).  Warn neighbours

o   Tell the child how it is going to be and why

o   Quiet bedtime routine every night

o   Put in bed, say good night, walk out

o   If they come out, return them to bed with no reinforcement or eye contact 

o   If they cry, wait 5 minutes, then 7 minutes, then 9 minutes, etc. When going in, no reinforcement 

o   Stick with it.  May get worse before it gets better.  Should see improvement by 5^th night