MANAGEMENT OF SLEEP PROBLEMS: GETTING INTO PARENTS’ BED DURING THE NIGHT
This is obviously closely linked with waking during the night. Some children after waking up will make their way to the parents’ bed and get in. This invades the parents’ privacy and also disrupts their sleep. In some families, once the child enters the parents’ bed, one of them (usually the father) will go to sleep in the child’s bed.
For some cultures and in some families co-sleeping is the norm, and there is no real evidence that it does any long-term harm. For parents who want to put a stop to this habit, the strategy is fairly straightforward, although both parents will need to be certain they want to commit themselves to the process.
The first step is to prepare the child by letting him know that the rules are to be changed, and that now if the child wakes during the night, he must stay in his own bed. During the night, if the child enters the parents’ bed, he is immediately returned to his own bed. There must be no cuddles or conversation — just a matter of fact return to bed. This may need to be repeated a number of times, over a few nights, before the child gets the message.
The next morning the parents should tell the child how good/grown up he is for having stayed in his room all night. The reinforcement of expected and appropriate behaviour is an important part of the strategy.
These strategies will almost always work. If they do not, it is often because parents don’t persist or support each other adequately. Sometimes the help of an interested family doctor, pediatrician or psychologist is a good idea, such a person can act as a sort of ‘coach’ for the parents, especially for the more difficult or stubborn youngsters.
*164\90\8*
Related Posts:
Posted: May 21st, 2009 under General health.
Tags: General health
Write a comment
You need to login to post comments!