Sleep Problems in Children

THE DREAM AND THE YOUNG CHILD

When the child begins to sleep 8 or more hours at night, daytime nap periods become more predictable. The child form associations to the dream: to stick in your head, thumb-sucking or kicking before sleep.

The ideal age to separate the young child’s bed is parent to three months. At this age the baby is not yet visible from afar so if we get the last memory before sleep is not associated with the image of the faces of their parents but of the objects in his cradle, the child will learn to initiate sleep without waiting for their presence. If there is no other room is also valid to put a screen between his birthplace and his parents’ bed.
From the fourth month of age the child can easily wake up is uncomfortable sensations: excessive noise, familiar social routine, heat, cold, wet, tight clothing, thirst, etc..

The child becomes accustomed to his surroundings at bedtime and after four months of age can be a problem do sleep in a different site.
Within six months of age the child starts in the anguish of separation. At this age it is very difficult to separate the child and parent.
There is no set time for sleep. This varies for each child. The best proof of that is that enough sleep is not tired during the day.
When the child feels that is loaded each time he cries quickly form a bad habit. If the child notices that this behavior may delay his going to bed, will also form a bad habit.

By age the child can talk in his sleep. And three years can get up, go to the parents’ room and talking incoherently. This is called dreaming.
The child must be moved from a crib to a bed between two and three years of age. You can pass this step if the child learns to jump the rails of his crib as this might fall and serious injury.

The morning nap disappears between two and five years of age. Just at this age children are trying to lengthen or postpone the time when they have to go to bed or sleep. Develop a “ritual”, they insist that it be the light on, hold on to an object or doll to sleep, request that they tell a story or give them good night and wake during the night.
At this age appears somnambulism (sleep walking or talking) or night terrors. In most cases these changes are temporary and disappear after three years unless there are problems in the family or both parents work during the day, as discussed below.
The time taken for each child to organize his dream and become independent variable. According to his personality, some children require more than others for love and attention, some early show greater independence and autonomy.