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77
Hoo’s Tips
Sleep Tips��
FOR PRESCHOOLERS
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Your preschooler slept through the night after you ‘sleep
trained’ her at 6 months, but now she is suddenly refusing to
stay in her bed and gets out several times a night. If this sounds
familiar, here are some tips that will help your older toddler or
preschooler get the sleep she needs.
First, keep your preschooler’s bedtime routine as consistent and
predictable as possible. The bedtime routine should last about
30 minutes and include tasks that help your child wind down
for the day such as taking a bath and some quiet time with
you. If the bedtime routine is consistent and your child still has
trouble falling asleep on her own and staying asleep, consult
her pediatrician to rule out any possible medical conditions, like
sleep apnea or asthma, that may disrupt sleep.
Once the bedtime routine is consistent and any medical issues
have been addressed, select an age-appropriate sleep training
method to teach your preschooler how to get the sleep she needs.
Keep sleep training positive by using a reward chart. Your child
gets stickers for completing the bedtime routine, going to sleep
in her bed, falling asleep
without having you sit by
her bed and staying in her
bed all night.
Try the ‘fading’ method for preschoolers who have decided
they want to stay up late and will not fall asleep at the time you
have targeted. The first night, push bedtime to around the time
your preschooler has been staying up until, and then each night
make bedtime 15 minutes earlier until you reach your target
bedtime. During the day, ensure your preschooler is not taking
extra-long naps and is getting enough exercise.
If your preschooler does not want to stay in her bed, try
creating a ‘hall pass’ that allows her one free trip out of bed.
Once the pass is used, all other non-emergency requests to
leave her bed are rejected. This method gives your preschooler
some control over bedtime within clearly set boundaries,
making her less likely to test the limits by repeatedly calling for
you to seek permission to leave the bed.
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