Toddler Sleep Habits: Interview with Dr.
Kevin Johnson

For many parents, one of the most common problems they face involves developing good toddler sleep habits. For some, the struggle lies in falling asleep. For others, the problem includes wakefulness in the middle of the night. There certainly isn't one definitive cure for any of these sleep problems, but there are some strategies that work.

Developing good toddler sleep habits isn't always an easy task.

Dr. Kevin Johnson is a father to two beautiful daughters ages eight and six. He is a Fellow of the AAP, a JustAnswer Pediatrics Expert, and he has been in the pediatric field for a decade. Seven of these years were spent practicing general pediatrics, neonatology and hospitalist inpatient care. For the past three years, he's been the Attending Physician Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Medicine at a busy children's hospital emergency department.

Dr. Johnson offers parents tips and advice for helping develop good toddler sleep habits. These sleep tips will continue to benefit a child in later years as well.

Nightmares, night terrors, bedwetting, insomnia, sleep apnea -- and they don't want to miss anything!

Sleeping in, staying up late, lack of a consistent routine, no wind-down time, caffeine (chocolates, soda, even juices) before bedtime, separation issues, lack of sleep.

• Have a consistent routine with bedtime at the same time each night.
• Have wind-down time with a warm bath, read a book and have QUIET time before bed.
• Do not allow oversleeping or very prolonged repeated naps during the day.
• Encourage plenty of unstructured active play during the day.

• Loud snoring: This can be a sign of sleep apnea.
• Sleepwalking: Ensure the area is safe. Guide your child back to bed without waking him/her. If the problem continues, contact your doctor.
• Night terrors: These are different from nightmares. Children with night terrors scream uncontrollably, may breathe quickly and appear to be awake. If you wake them, they are likely to be confused, and may take longer to settle down and go back to sleep. They usually occur between the ages of 4 and 12, but can happen to children as young as 18 months. Most children will outgrow them, but if they persist talk to your doctor.

Keep up the routine. Be patient, Be calm, Be persistent.

Dr. Kevin Johnson

While some toddlers develop good sleep habits without any trouble, others struggle with this issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a variety of tips on helping toddlers develop good sleep habits. Tips include the following:

• Develop a quiet bedtime routine.
• Be consistent with the routine, including habits and times.
• Let your child sleep with a favorite item, such as a stuffed animal or blanket.
• Comfort is important, so be sure and take care of any needs, such as a drink of water or trip to the potty before bedtime.
• Encourage your child to fall asleep on his own in his own bed.
• Don't automatically run to your child's room as soon as he calls for you. Reassure him, but don't play with him or stay too long in his room.
• Be patient. Developing good sleep habits takes time.

Finally, if your child continues to have problems associated with sleeping, contact your pediatrician. He or she may want to do some tests to rule out any physical problems that might be contributing to the behavior.

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