Still Can't Get Your Toddler To Sleep Through The Night?

Still Can’t Get Your Toddler To Sleep Through The Night?

Dr.Sue (@TheKidsDoctor) offered some of her expertise during our #SesameSleep Twitter party. You had questions, she has the answers.

Rebeca asked -

My son is nearly 2-years-old and very rarely sleeps through the night. He doesn’t have reflux or apnea and I’ve tried just about everything to help him sleep. He is hyperactive and likely ADHD, though.

I’ve also stopped going into his room (unless there’s something wrong), but he still wakes at least once or twice a night. He moans or cries usually for about 15-20 and goes back to sleep. Sometimes he’s up for more than a hour. We don’t have any problems getting him to go to bed, the struggle is keeping him asleep. I feel like I’m always explaining his moods because he didn’t sleep well the night before.

Dr.Sue replied…

It is hard to know if a 2 year old is hyperactive, or has ADHD as ALL toddlers have those tendencies, they just never stop.

Awakening during sleep is also normal. In some studies the average child had 3 -4 awakenings throughout the night. If he awakens throughout the night (and these awakenings are usually at about the same time), Are you always just letting him be, and not getting involved in his night time awakenings? If you leave him alone he will often not stay up as long and you may not even notice his awakenings. Make sure that his bed time is early enough and that you do not let him watch TV or videos or anything like that prior to bed too. Sometimes that can disrupt sleep, although many parents swear it helps get their toddler to sleep. Not a good habit to start.

If he continues to have problems I would talk to your pediatrician and get a sleep expert involved.

For more sleep related Q&A with Dr.Sue, be sure to check out how our Twitter Party went which includes the most common sleep-related questions moms had.

If you have any questions for Dr. Sue, be sure to check out Kid’s Doctor Radio which airs every Sunday between 7:30am-8:30am central time on 103.7 Lite FM CBS Radio Dallas and the Kid’s Doctor web site.