Speech and Language skills

Overall about 5% of children entering school have significant speech and langauge difficulties without any additional sensory or cognitive impairments. When sensory and cognitive impairment is an additional feature this number rises to 25-35%.

For the majority of children speech and langauge develops without any problems and by the age of 6 years children are relatively sophisticated users of language. Speech and language skills incorporate a number of elements including;-

• Structure of language
• Use of language
• Understanding of language
• Vocabulary
• Speech sounds

Some signs which may indicate that a child has a speech and language problem include;-

• Inability to follow simple, everyday instructions at age 2years.
• Restricted vocabulary development at 30 months. (70% of children have at least 500 words by this age)
• Sentence structure of 2-3 words at the age of three years.
• Family cannot understand the childs speech at 3 years of age.
• Difficulties in attentionm understanding, development of play or with the social aspects of language.
• Failure to use grammatical endings such as ing, ed, and plurals at 4 years of age.

It is important to ensure that the child has good hearing as missing a pitch or tone can result in poor speech. Language difficulties are pervasive and early intervention and support can make a considerable difference to the child's learning and speech and language development. Referral to a speech and language therapist for assessment and support can be invaluable.

Feet First

The Human foot is a complex structure of 26 bones, which have usually hardened by about age 18. In a nweborn the foot is mainly made up of relatively soft cartilage which converts to bone as the child grows and matures. During this period of growth and development the foot is at risk of injury and deformity. For this reason children's footwear has special importance.

Babygrows and sleep suits should not cram little toes. Pram shoes are best avoided as it is very difficult to size appropriately, bootees which do not constrict the toes and ankles are much more suitable. Ideally a child does not require shoes until they are walking competently out of doors. In order for the foot to develop normally and naturally the child should be barefoot for as long as possible within the realms of safety.

On average a child's foot grows two sizes a year in the first four years of life, and one size a year after this, until growth is complete. Sometimes a childs foot seems not to grow for a considerable period then suddenly grows several sizes. It is a good idea to have a trained shoe fitter measure your childs feet every 8 weeks, more frequently if you are aware that the child is actively growing taller.

Children enjoy being barefoot, but if their feet are noticeably cold, or they complain of this, some form of protection may be neccessary. Socks alone may be dangerous if there is a danger of the child slipping. Slippers are only a short term solution as they are not held properly on the foot. Long term use may result in future deformities.

The age at which a child first walks unaided is variable. For girls the average age is 12 months and for boys 15 months, but some perfectly normal children do not walk unaided until 24 months. Nearly all babies appear to have flat feet when first they walk unaided. This is partly because of posture adn partly due to the deposits of fat which can make the foot look flat. The first time walking baby has to balance a relatively large head on a short body and in order to do so baby walks with knees bent, legs wide apart and feet turned outwards. The nervous gait control is still developing and so the child appears to be flat footed.

Baby walkers encourage loading of the joints before nature intended, often resulting in unusual walking patterns. Research has demonstrated that using baby walkers may cause baby to walk later than he or she normally would.

Keeping children warm

It is generally accepted that an infants bedroom should be kept at between 18-20 degrees C. At this temperature the room is cool enough to allow baby to be warm and to sleep without being overheated. As winter cools the outside air there is a temptation to increase the temperature inside homes, as much for the comfort of the adults as the comfort of children. The ambient temperature of your living room is chosen for your comfort and that is a personal choice.

Children do not make these choices so what should we consider for them?

Toddlers should have one layer more clothing on, than their parents, to ensure that they remain warm and comfortable. Wearing a hat out of doors is helpful, as babies and small children lose a fair amount of body heat through their scalp. Where there isn't a great deal of hair, this loss is increased. Toddlers are notorious for wriggling out of hats shoes and gloves, which is why strollers have warmly lined "suits" or cosies to keep them warm.

Children's body thermostat is not as efficient as an adults, so it is important to ensure that they remain warm and dry despite the winter storms and snows. When ever possible parents should avoid taking very young children out after 3.30pm/4pm as this is when the temperature outside is most likely to start it's evening fall. Although the baby/child may have been warmly enough dressed earlier in the day this fall in temperature can make it more difficult to remain warm.

Is it healthy to encourage babies to sleep through in early life?

Although we know that babies, from as early as two months, have a definate sleep pattern developing, how healthy is it to have an infant sleep through the night?
You may argue as a parent that you need your night sleep, and wake only to feed or comfort your child. That it is better for you, and makes it easier to cope, if your child sleeps through the night and lets you sleep too.

While this has become the accepted standard, and parents are particularly proud when they can tell others that their child sleeps through the night from as early as a few months old, we know that breast fed babies wake several times through the night and that this encourages milk production.
Breast fed babies usually feed quickly and with minimal disturbance to their own or their mothers sleep, depending on the sleeping place.

There is another school of thought that says babies who are encouraged too soon to sleep too deeply are more likely to overcome their bodies natural "protective" impulse to wake, may be more likely to succum to Sudden Infant Death.
This arousal mechanism is the primary means by which infants defend themselves against potentially fatal breathing or cardiac perturbations. Encouraging early sleep consolidation may be placing arousal-deficient infants at increased risk of sudden and unexpected death.

When the "experts" disagree it is confusing for parents who want to do the best they can for their baby. Perhaps parents whose children do not sleep through the night before 6-9months should take heart that, although they may have a sleep deficit as a consequense, they are not necessarily doing anything wrong.

The truth of the matter is, that what is a problem for one set of parents, is not necessarily viewed as a problem by other parents. We should be prepared to work with our children. Supporting them through life and encouraging the behaviours we find acceptable. At the same time accepting that we all develop at different paces and there is some joy in the differences too.

There is no "one rule suits all" nor should there be.

If you have concerns about your child's sleep, Contact Dream-Angus.com

When do babies start to sleep through the night?

A new study suggests that babies should be able to sleep through the night from about three months old. From about five months, parents should be able to expect a longer period of sleep.

Previous studies show that a sleep pattern develops before a real feeding pattern and this is usually at about 60 days (two months) of life.

Jacqueline M. T. Henderson, PhDa, Karyn G. France, PhDb, Joseph L. Owens, PhDa, and Neville M. Blampied, MSc of the Department of Psychology and Health Sciences Centre, University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand set the objective of investigating the consolidation of infants' self-regulated night sleep over the first year.
The idea was to determine when infants first sleep through the night from 24:00 to 05:00 hours, or for 8 hours, or between 22:00 and 06:00 hours. These times were chosen as the times that most parents would love to have babies sleep through without waking.

Parents of 75 typically developing infants completed sleep diaries for 6 days each month for 12 months. The accuracy of the parent reports were assessed by using videosomnography. (time lapse video of the sleeping child)

The researchers found that the most rapid increase in uninterrupted sleep occurred between one and four months, during which the babies gradually stretched their sustained snooze time by nearly three hours.

At five months of age, 50% of infants were sleeping from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Babies reached the easier milestones earlier. Half of the babies slept from midnight to 5 a.m. by three months of age and 8 hours a night by four months, according to the October 25th online report in Pediatrics.

By 12 months, 85% of the babies met these two criteria -- but one of every four still wasn't sleeping from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

This study found that the most rapid consolidation in infant sleep regulation occurs in the first 4 months. Most infants are sleeping through the night at 2 and 3 months, regardless of the criterion used.
The most developmentally and socially valid criterion for sleeping through is from 22:00 to 0:600 hours.
At 5 months, more than half of the infants were sleeping concurrently with their parents.

Many infants have difficulties in consolidating their sleep and frequently wake during the night, which is a source of distress for the family. Understanding normal maturation may help in developing interventions and early prevention tools.

Sleep-promoting routines should include creating a sleep environment that is quiet, dark and at an appropriate temperature; maintaining consistent routines and sleep schedules; encouraging a baby to fall asleep and resume sleep in their cribs with little help; and gradually increasing intervals between night feedings.

If you would like help to improve your child's sleep Contact Dream-Angus.com

Toddler Tantrums

Toddler Tantrums occur at least once a week in 50-80% of pre school children.
The most common cause of toddler tantrums is conflict with parents ;-

1) Over food and eating (16.7 per cent),

2) Being put in a pushchair, high chair or car seat (11.6 per cent

3) By getting changed or dressed (10.8 per cent).

There are peak times for tantrums – more tantrums occur in the late morning and early evening, when the child is probably hungry or tired.At this stage in a child’s life, what may seem weird, irrational or just plain naughty is perfectly normal. It does not help – you or the child – to get stressed about it.

Of all the challenging types of toddler behaviour –for example, getting into everything, asking endless questions or refusing point blank to get into the buggy/car seat – it’s the tantrum that gives toddlers a bad name and provides parents with the most headaches.

Coping strategies.
There are times when nothing less than a miracle will stop your child kicking off – like the moment you realise you’ve left their favourite teddy at the supermarket and it shut two hours ago. You can employ some tactics to ward off trouble.

At home
‘Toddler-proof’ your home so you don’t have to keep taking things away from your child. Look around your home and put away breakables or things children can hurt themselves on. Your house may not look as pretty, but it’s better than shouting at them all day.

Out shopping
When you have time get your toddler to help by picking out objects you want to buy. Choosing which colour of toilet roll, bubble bath or soap to buy.

Visiting
Visiting friends or family, take a goodie bag with you with toys, books, colouring pencils and chewy foods to keep your child amused, particularly when visiting elderly relatives or friends who have no children.

If you would like more information about coping strategies or parenting;-

Contact Dream-Angus.com

Cradle Cap/Seborrhoeic Eczema in Infants

Cradle Cap is generally the name given to the thick yellow scurf on the scalp of children under a year old. This occurs soon after birth and generally is completely gone by the time a child is a year old. Some babies have this from a one or two weeks of life, and others from a few months, while others never seem to have this problem at all.

Cradle cap starts quite suddenly with the scalp becoming thickly coated with greasy yellowish scales, which stick to the scalp and may extend to the eyebrows, behind the ears, and neck folds. The skin may be slightly red beneath the scales but it is not sore or hot to touch. This condition does not cause any discomfort and does not mean that baby is unwell, and it does not itch. Often it will simply go away and not come back.

When this happens in the first few weeks of life it is often due to persistent secretion of vernix, the greasy coating that baby is born with. As this dries up the scales fall off and the scalp becomes clear.

Cradle cap which occurs later is often due to infantile seborrhoeic eczema and may also affect the groin, and the skin under the arms. In most cases this will clear by itself but, if you are concerned you can try the following;-

1) You can use a gentle shampoo and tepid water to wash the affected skin daily. Don't use harsh shampoo which is recommended for adult dandruff.

2) Massage warmed olive or grape seed oil into the scalp to losen the scales. Leave this on for an hour before shampooing with a mild shampoo.

3) Massage aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment into the scalp if it remains scaly. Leave this on for several hours before washing off with warm water. You do not need shampoo as the aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment will be enough. If the emulsifying ointment is very thick stand it in a dish of warm water to soften it before using.

If Cradle cap is on other parts of the body then see your family doctor so that an appropriate treatment may be prescribed.

Dream-Angus.com

Teaching children to make choices.

How many choices do you offer your child or children on a regular basis?

If we teach our children to make good choices while they are young, there is a better chance of them continuing to make good choices as they grow and the choices become more important.

Start when your child is about a year old. Only offer a choice of two things as more is confusing. You don't want to wait for a long time while the child makes this decision so keeping it simple is easier for both of you. "Do you want to put your socks or your vest on first?" Only offer choices that you are happy to live with. Then, if the child wants to do something that you would not like them to do, it is not an option.

Too many parents offer a choice which includes something they hope the child will not choose. Children can read their parents, and will opt for the choice that you find least acceptable, so don't make it part of the process. If your child has made lots of choices in the day and you want something done, you can point out the number of choices they have made, and tell the child that it is now your turn to choose and you want them to ......

This seems much fairer to the child than making all the decisions for them and makes your child feel that they have had some control over their day.

Help your child to have a level of control over their own life so that they can develop a sense of responsibility. If a bad decision is made, then living with the consequenses is part of understanding how things work in the real world, while being in a safe environment.

Parenting can be fun. If you would like to join a parenting class and learn more about helping your child to make choices and take responsibility,
contact Dream-Angus.com

Six problems using a dummy/comforter can cause.

On average, half of the toddlers who are using a dummy, are 3 times more likely to have ear infections and will require speech and language therapy.
Children who have had a dummy/comforter for too long are at greater risk of;-

1) Upper and lower front and back teeth not meeting properly, or they become overcrowded at the front of the mouth.
2) Tooth decay in the front teeth in particular.
3) Incorrect tounge position which affects swallowing and may be linked to developmental and speech problems.
4) Breathing through the mouth rather than the nose.
5) Speech sound problems which the child may not "grow out of" but may require speech and language therapy to correct. ("T" becomes "K")
6) Glue ear causing hearing problems so again language development is more difficult.

The dummy/ comforter may be useful in the early months. Use it appropriately by using it selectively, after a feed.
Wean your child off using this by no later than 10-12 months.
Never put sugar or other sweet tasting substances on a dummy/comforter.

If you need advice and support in getting rid of the dummy,
Contact Dream-Angus.com

Protecting your child's teeth

Sugary drinks in bottles, especially at bed time can lead to tooth decay. The most dammaging drinks are those high in sugar and acid like fruit juices and squashes and fizzy drinks.

Protect your child's smile.

1) Dilute unsweetened fruit juice and squashes.

2) Limit these to meal times only.

3) Offer water/milk in between meals and at bed time.

4) Try drinks in a feeder or cup from six months onwards.

5) Brush your child's teeth twice a day, particularly at bed time, with a flouride toothpaste.

6) Register your child with a dentist, and take them there regularly from two years of age.

How old is too old for a dummy/comforter?

Babies have a natural sucking reflex in the first few months which makes sucking a bottle, or dummy, comforting for them. From about six months you should introduce the use of beakers or cups.

By a year you should have separated your baby from the bottle or dummy. At about this time continuing with dummies can stop your child from talking properly, and increases salivation and drooling, which in turn can cause skin problems.

Here are six simple things you can do to encourage your child to do without their dummy/comforter.

1) Reduce the use of the dummy to only making it available at bed time and remove it once your child is asleep.

2) Encourage your child to talk by listening carefully and giving your full attention.

3) Encourage choices by naming the foods at meal times.

4) Encourage your child to use words instead of simply pointing at things.

5) Take the dummy out of your child's mouth when they are speaking.

6) Talk to your child. Use picture books and everyday situations like shopping, to encourage your child to talk. The more you talk to your child the more your child will learn and respond.

If you want help to get rid of the dummy
Contact Dream-Angus .com

Dreaming and night waking

At 2 -3 years of age dreaming becomes vivid. By three years of age your child may not require a nap, but until that time an average of an hours nap in the day is usually helpful to avoid sleep deficit.
This is the stage when children’s sleep may be disturbed by Nocturnal confusion Night terrors or Nightmares and there is a difference.

Nocturnal Confusion occurs mainly in very young children who are distressed and agitated but do not respond to parents attempts to reassure them.

Night terrors occur early in the night, usually in the first third of sleep (deep Non REM sleep) the child is distressed and agitated, and although your child’s eyes may be open the child is not completely awake and no reassurance from you will comfort your child. Sleep returns fairly quickly and there is no memory of events in the morning.

Nightmares usually occur in the second part of the night (middle to late REM sleep)
Your child has had a frightening dream and will accept comforting and reassurance. It can take longer to re settle the child to sleep afterwards and it is important that the parents reassure and encourage the child to remain in his/her own bed and return to sleep. While the child was asleep, during this episode they are fully awake and remember this afterwards. Nightmares can be precipitated by illness or stress, in which case there may also be night terrors.

Nightmares usually peak at about 3 -6years of age. They are universal and a normal part of cognitive development.

There are things you can do to reduce the frequency of nightmares and night terrors for your child and Dream-Angus can help you with this.

If these are a problem for your child let us give you some simple strategies to try first.

In most cases simple measures are very effective; however, if the night terrors or nightmares remain persistent and severe and fail to respond to behavioural strategies, then a psychological assessment may help.


Contact Dream-Angus.com

Dreaming and night waking

At 2-3 years of age dreaming becomes vivid. By three years of age your child may not require a nap, but until that time an average of an hours nap in the day is usually helpful to avoid sleep deficit.
This is the stage when children’s sleep may be disturbed by Nocturnal confusion Night terrors or Nightmares and there is a difference.

Nocturnal Confusion occurs mainly in very young children who are distressed and agitated but do not respond to parents attempts to reassure them.

Night terrors occur early in the night, usually in the first third of sleep (deep Non REM sleep) the child is distressed and agitated, and although your child’s eyes may be open the child is not completely awake and no reassurance from you will comfort your child. Sleep returns fairly quickly and there is no memory of events in the morning.

Nightmares usually occur in the second part of the night (middle to late REM sleep)
Your child has had a frightening dream and will accept comforting and reassurance. It can take longer to re settle the child to sleep afterwards and it is important that the parents reassure and encourage the child to remain in his/her own bed and return to sleep. While the child was asleep, during this episode they are fully awake and remember this afterwards. Nightmares can be precipitated by illness or stress, in which case there may also be night terrors.

Nightmares usually peak at about 3 -6years of age. They are universal and a normal part of cognitive development.

There are things you can do to reduce the frequency of nightmares and night terrors for your child and Dream-Angus can help you with this.

If these are a problem for your child let us give you some simple strategies to try first.

Contact ;- info@Dream-Angus.com

Gastric Reflux: The Facts

Gastric Reflux is a common problem particularly in pre term babies. It can be defined as a transient, inappropriate relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter allowing stomach contents to flow back into the oesophagus. This can result in regurgitation or vomiting, which may upset the child by causing pain and discomfort or, in milder cases there may be no apparent distress related to these events.'

When there is no distress there is no need for treatment. More moderate to severe reflux should be treated because there is a link to reflux and Asthma in early childhood. 

 In practice, sick children's hospitals, and some special baby care units, use infant Gaviscon as an antacid. This is made from seaweed and forms a "jelly like " layer at the top of the stomach. The result is that this less acid "jelly" is what floats back to the oesophagus and thus pain is reduced.

The only side effect of this, and only in some infants, is constipation. Medical trials using Gaviscon Infant powder have shown that this was effective in reducing vomiting and regurgitation in episodes at 14 days, but did not reduce the level of vomiting. Another double blind trial, found no difference when Gaviscon was used.'

Some Consultant Paediatricians will prescribe medications which will reduce the amount of acid that is released into the stomach. These are only used in the short term and, once the child is established on a semi solid diet these are generally discontinued. Family Doctors are always reluctant to prescribe such medication without the overview of a Consultant.

Although symptoms of reflux can be demonstrated there is only one way to accurately diagnose reflux and that involves a short hospital stay and the passing of an acid monitor to check the level of acid in the oesophagus. This is not always reliable and most Paediatric Consultants will accept the parents description and treat this uncomfortable condition.

Using formulas which thicken on contact with stomach acids , such as Efamil AR and SMA Staydown ( both available on NHS prescription) are only moderately effective in treating reflux in otherwise healthy children.

This is because this issue is often one of mechanics, and nothing is going to make the sphincter muscle mature and perform it's function as it should, other than maturity. Using an antacid or something which will reduce the acid production, is really the only way to reduce discomfort and distress.

The first line of treatment is usually Gaviscon infant powder, and where this is successful, there is no need for further intervention. If this proves ineffective then it is worth exploring other options.

Another study, looking at positioning the infant with the head of the crib raised, found that this is not always justifiable, however, placing infants on their left side, can reduce reflux. Lying on one side is not a stable position for infants and using pillows to maintain this position is not recommended.

It is possible to use a breathable fabric rolled against the child's back and supporting the child's legs but, this needs to be done with some care to avoid overheating.

Reflux, like colic, is self limiting. It can be difficult for parents to watch an infant in distress and pain without seeking assistance to make the child more comfortable.Children affected by any degree of reflux often take longer to settle after a feed and can be fussy, because feeding does not comfort them as it would an unaffected child.

Starting your child on Solids.

There are a rich variety of sources of information on feeding children. Every source has a different idea about what method and substance. Here are a few points to consider when you want to start your baby on solids.

1) Children can remain on breast or formula until they are 2 years old.
2) The World Health Organisation recommends starting solids at about 6 months.
3) Big Babies do not need to start earlier on solid diet.


Your child is ready for solids when;-
1) He or she can sit up unsupported.
2) He/She can reach out and grab things accurately.
3) He/She takes things into his /her mouth and chews them rather than automatically pushing them out.

Babies are more likely to develop allergies and intolerances when there is a history of hay fever, eczema or asthma in the family.
In the drive for a healthy diet organic foods are an attractive option for feeding children, however beware;-

Organic foods still need to be processed to make them suitable for baby. In the course of this processing many important nutrients are lost. As these are to be sold as “organic” the missing nutrients destroyed in the processing cannot be re introduced because the foodstuff would no longer be eligible for labelling as “organic”.

If you want to feed your child “organic” foods then prepare them yourself. Cook them without adding salt or sugar and push them through a sieve, mash with a fork or offer as “finger foods”. Your child will benefit from the experience and you will not be denying your baby important vitamins and minerals which they need for healthy growth.

Organic foods and babies.

Do you know how much sugar has been added to your child’s convenience food?

Check the food labels carefully.

5grams = an ordinary heaped teaspoon of sugar.

A “food” containing 35 gms sugar contains 7 heaped teaspoons of sugar.
Not something you should be feeding your child!

Improve Teenagers Sleep in 7 steps

The recommendation of Sleep Specialists, is that teenagers should have at least 9/10hours sleep per night. In fact, it is generally recognised that most teenagers fall short if this and only have about 7.5 hours per night.

Although when they were 8 to 10 years old, these same teenagers will have been sleepy and in bed by 8pm, now, in the teen years, they are not sleepy until about 10-11pm. This shift in their circadian rhythm is in part due to the hormones released during adolescence. Not being able to get to sleep before 10/11pm means that they have a shorter sleep cycle. Most teenagers must be awake and alert by about 8am, particularly during the school term. Consequently teenagers, if given the opportunity will lie in until lunchtime as they try to catch up on their sleep.

Regularly not getting enough sleep (chronic sleep deprivation) can affect a teenager's academic and sporting performance and may increase their risk of emotional problems such as depression. Even 30 minutes of extra sleep each night makes a difference. One recent US study found that lack of sleep was a common factor in teenagers who receive poor to average school marks.

A hectic after school schedule,with social commitments, homework and part time employment can cut into sleep time. In western cultures these activities are valued above sleep and this can become a vicious circle. Light cues from television, computers, and mobile phones can prevent the release of melatonin which would help make the teenager sleepy.

The typical teenage brain wants to go to bed late and sleep late the following morning, which is usually hard to manage. You may be able to adjust your body clock but it takes time.

Seven things you can do;-

1) Choose a relaxing bedtime routine; for example, have a bath and a hot milky drink before bed.

2) Avoid loud music, homework, computer games or any other activity that gets your mind racing for about an hour before bedtime.

3) Keep your room dark at night. The brain’s sleep–wake cycle is largely set by light received through the eyes. Try to avoid watching television right before bed. In the morning, expose your eyes to lots of light to help wake up your brain.

4) Do the same bedtime routine every night for at least four weeks to make your brain associate this routine with going to sleep.

5) Start your bedtime routine a little earlier than usual (for example, 10 minutes) after four weeks. Do this for one week.

6) Add an extra 10 minutes every week until you have reached your desired bedtime.

7) Avoid staying up late on the weekends. Late nights will undo your hard work.


Remember that even 30 minutes of extra sleep each night on a regular basis makes a big difference. However, it may take about six weeks of getting extra sleep before you feel the benefits. If you would like some help in adjusting your sleep pattern, contact Dream-Angus

Children and sleep disturbances.

Children's sleep is slowly becoming a more recognised issue both in the media and in the field of research. Channel 4 (UK television) recently presented a programme where two different Sleep specialists "competed" to see whose methods were more successful. The families who took part had different sleep issues and both had difficulties in being consistent. This is often the case. When you have a big sleep deficit it is very difficult to manage situations, to make clear decisions, and to follow through.

Both families did experience resolution of their sleep disturbances and now the children are reported to be sleeping well. The parents will have their own sleep deficit to address and gradually they too will experience the full benefits of an improved sleep.

There are as many ways to address the various sleep disturbances of childhood, as there are families who need this help. The real expertise is in choosing the most appropriate intervention for a particular family and their child. Then the majority of the work, which the parents have to do, is about being consistent. When a plan works, it works because the parents have accepted the method and have been consistent in following it. How quickly resolution occurs is entirely down to the appropriate method and the parents ability to be consistent.

Children learn by demonstration and frequent repetition. The boundaries have to be set and maintained. This helps the child to become secure in understanding what is expected of them, and to settle to a desired pattern of behaviour. Our children want to please us. When we have a sleep deficit, and when we fail to be consistent, they become confused and this leads to insecurity.

In the interests of the programme, making interesting television, there was more emphasis on the competition between the two experts than on the resolution of the sleep issues. There is no reason why, in this day and age, any parent should have to struggle to get their child or children to settle well at bed time and sleep through the night. There are services out there to help.

Children with special needs have particular issues, but, even with the complications of their specific requirements, they can be taught to sleep and to sleep properly. The main difference is that children who have other health issues are likely to require a more prolonged programme.

If you would like help to resolve your child, or children's sleep issues,
Contact Dream-Angus. A fifteen minute telephone conversation is free.

Prevent simple infections

Even young children can learn to protect themselves from aquired infections. Most will enjoy this method of information delivery.

Confusional Arousals

This is quite common in infants and toddlers. Episodes may begin with movement and moaning, and may progress to quite agitated and confused behaviour. The infant may cry intensely, toddlers may cry out and thrash about. Although the little one appears to be alert, they do not respond when spoken to.

This is quite an alarming situation for parents who may try to rouse the little one in an attempt to console them. It will take quite a bit to waken the child and trying to do so is only likely to prolong the arousal. If the child is woken there is also the possiblity that they are likely to be confused and upset.

These arousals can last five to fifteen minutes, only occasionally a little longer. The little one will calm by themselves and return to sleep once it is over. These events more commonly take place in the earlier part of night sleep, before midnight, but can occasionally happen later.

Preventing such occurances requires that the child has a good sleep/wake routine. Children who are overtired or have not had a good and regular sleep pattern are more prone to these events than those whose usual sleep pattern is good.

If you struggle with a child who frequently exhibits this behaviour, Contact Dream-Angus, we can help you to help your child to sleep better.

Night Terrors (Pavor Nocturnus)

Night terrors should be more accurately referred to as Sleep Terrors. They are a form of arousal which occurs in about 3% of children, usually in later childhood.

Typically parents are woken by a loud scream or sudden loud alarming noise from the child who is at the start of a sleep terror. The child appears to be awake, eyes wide open and staring, sweating profusely, with a rapid pulse and crying out as if terrified. The child may jump out of bed and rush about frantically as if fleeing some danger. Injury caused by bumping into things is a serious risk.

Usually the episode ends as abruptly as it began. The child goes back to sleep and has little or no memory of the event in the morning. If the child wakes at the end of the terror, then a feeling of definate threat may be expressed, but not a nightmare.

Such dramatic events do not mean that the child is ill. Trying to calm a child during such an event is pointless. The child is not aware of anything outwith this feeling of primitive threat. The best thing parents can do is to ensure that the environement is as safe as possible, wait until the event is over, and then resettle the child in bed.

Trying to discuss this in the morning will only make the child more anxious about themselves. Ensuring that the child has a good sleep pattern with regular and adequate sleep will reduce the frequency of these events. If, despite good quality regular sleep these events persist there are recognised effective behavioural methods for dealing with them. Medication is a last resort.

Most children will grow out of these events by adolescence. If your child experiences sleep terrors and you have concerns that they remain frequent despite following good sleep hyigene guidelines, contact Dream-Angus. We can help you to overcome this.

Things we thought we knew.....

It is interesting to see that some of the things we always thought we knew, are now being confirmed in scientific research.Check out this interesting link;-
http://bit.ly/cQU0BQ

If you would like help and support to improve your child's sleep,
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Seasonal sensitivities and disordered breathing.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that approximately two percent of otherwise healthy young children have obstructive sleep apnea, a common form of SDB that occurs when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway during sleep.

Most children with OSA have a history of snoring that tends to be loud, and may include obvious pauses in breathing, and gasps for breath. Parents often notice that the child seems to be working hard to breathe during sleep. The study involved a random sample of 687 children in grades K-5. Their parents completed a brief questionnaire, and each child was evaluated between June and November during an overnight sleep study in the sleep laboratory. Mild sleep-disordered breathing was defined as having an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of one to five breathing pauses per hour of sleep.

The most surprising thing about this study was the difference in the children's breathing during sleep, over the summer and autumn. Disordered breathing was increased over June to September and decreased from September through November. This highlights the importance of the need to be aware of the childs seasonal ensitivities and allergic reactions.

In the June 2009 issue of the journal SLEEP, Bixler and his research team reported that nasal problems such as chronic sinusitis and rhinitis are significant risk factors for mild sleep-disordered breathing in children. However, the extent to which allergies may promote a seasonal variation in sleep-disordered breathing still needs to be determined.

These findings impact on the medical and drug treatments which are used to treat children who experience disordered breathing during sleep.

Scots ditty /nursery rhythms

Not really a surprise.

A recent study of 8,000 children, published in a suppliment of the Journal of sleep and presented last week at a Professional Sleep Societies Conference, found that children with a regular bedtime perform better in a range of developmental measures.

Researchers found getting adequate sleep – at least 11 hours a night – was an important factor in four-year-olds’ development in the use of language, literacy and early maths ability, and a consistent bedtime resulted in the highest outcomes.

If you need help to improve your child's sleep, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Preventing Sleep Problems

In infants as young as two months, a definate sleep wake cycle has been demonstrated. Traditionally it is expected that from about three months of life, infants have a recognisable sleep wake pattern. How can parents help infants to develop an understanding of a good sleep pattern?

Babies learn to tell night from day when they are offered naps in normal ambient daylight with normal household noise. Your infant has listened to your breathing, heartbeat and digestion during their time in the womb. To suddenly have a silent world is strange and worrying. Background noise helps make sudden loud noise less upsetting. Don't close the curtains and darken the room at nap times.

Decide when you want your child to go to bed and when is a good time to wake up. Most families work on a 7am-7pm sleep wake cycle but there is nothing wrong with an 8am to 8pm pattern. Your child will live in your home in your lifestyle. Choose the times that best suit that lifestyle and develop recognisable routines so that your child can learn to anticipate what happens next. This makes the child secure and confident.

Young children have a very small window when they will settle to sleep quickly. Miss this opportunity and settling is a prolonged and difficult process. Learn to recognise your child's sleepy signals and to settle your child quickly.

Your routine before bed should consist of three things which you could do anywhere on the planet. These should be completed in the same order at the same time every night. Children learn by demonstration and repetition. This routine should not be longer than 30 minutes. Your child will quickly learn the order of this routine and know what is expected of them once it is completed.

Put your child down to sleep when they are calm and drowsy. If your child learns to settle by themselves you won't need to spend a lot of time with them to get them to go to sleep.

If you need help and support to teach your child to settle or stay asleep,
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Believing you can sleep

Many children believe that they cannot sleep unless their parents do specific things to help them relax and settle to sleep. These things which may include being rocked to sleep, being held with ot without added movement, being fed have become part of the child's touchstones, because they have never learned to fall asleep without them.

Every child can learn to go to sleep by themselves. As parents this is one of the most valuable lessons we can teach them.

Children's sleep is not a quiet still loss of awareness of the world. Children can be very noisy in sleep, babbling to themselves, moving round in their bed or crib. They also experience lighter and deeper sleep. As adults when our sleep is lighter, we may alter our position in the bed, become aware that we could wake up, but realise that it is too early, and return to sleep. For children who have developed the need to have mum or dad hold them, or be present, this lighter sleep can result in waking and not returning to sleep, because the association that they have developed, requires the presence of a parent to ensure a return to sleep.

Children who have developed associations and cannot sleep without them need to unlearn these bad habits so that they can settle by themselves. It is very important however, that one association is not replaced by another as this is not a solution.

Any alteration in behaviour needs to be consistent and repeated many times before it becomes accepted as a normal part of life. Following a sleep plan requires repetition for at least ten days before it can be reviewed and evaluated. Most behaviours, in healthy children can be resolved within four to six weeks. Children with specific health needs may require a prolonged repetition of a few months before any progress is made.

If you need help to alter your child's sleep associations contact Dream-Angus.com

Did you know?

Here are a few things you may not have known about sleep.

1) Your body's internal alarm enables you to wake up spontaneously at the time that you feel is right for you, is triggered by the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. The levels of this hormone may occasionally rise an hour or two before an expected wake up call to prepare your body for waking up. Sometimes this works "too efficiently" and you wake half and hour or an hour before the time you had in mind.

2) In a study, completed over six years, and looking at a million adults, it was demonstrated that people who get only six to seven hours of sleep a night have a lower death rate than those who get eight hours.

3) The Spanish, possibly because of their "Siesta" in the afternoon,sleep an average of 40 minutes less per night than other Europeans. This is balanced by the fact that Spain also has the highest rate of workplace accidents in the EU, and the third lowest productivity rate. In a gesture to integrate Spain into the EU a campaing was launched to eliminate these afternoon naps/siestas.

4) Oxford University researchers, in 2002,unsurprisingly concluded, that the traditional practice of counting sheep is an ineffective cure for insomnia. This mental activity is so boring that other problems and concerns inevitably surface.

5) During REM sleep, every 90 minutes or so, there are bursts of electrical activity through the brain stem. These are related to dreaming. During an average lifetime, the ordinary person spends more than six years dreaming, clocking more than 136,000 dreams in all. The reasons why we dream have been speculated on for many years, but no one has yet identified the reasons for dreaming.

Separation Anxiety in Childhood

Many mothers believe that their child has anxiety about being separated from their parent or parents. It is normal for children of 8-10 months to be visibly concerned about leaving parents or carers. Current research tells us that 90% of 10-month-old infants will become upset if a stranger approaches them in an unfamiliar room. Only 50% will become upset if the child is given time (10 minutes) to become familiar with the room. This suggests that, in new situations, infants cope better if they come across new things gradually.

Small children cope better when adults take time to allow the child to get to know them first. Seating a child of a few months on mum or dad's knee, facing a new adult and allowing the child to observe the interaction between the adults first, can help the child become more confident in the new adult and then interaction between the other adult and child is more acceptable. The infant will still look for mum or dad's reaction to their interaction with the visitor and will probably only accept a short interval of direct contact without seeking a return to mum or dad. This is entirely normal.

Separation Anxiety peaks at between 14-18 months and decreases through childhood. Children need to socialise and they need the security of knowing that their parents are there for them. Offering a series of short separations over time will help a child cope with being away from mum and dad.

Allergic or Intolerant?

Many people mistakenly think that they, or their children, are allergic to a particular food substance. A recent report commissioned in the USA, found the field of diagnosis of food allergies is rife with poorly done studies, misdiagnoses and tests whose results are misleading.

So how do you know you have an allergy? True allergies can be demonstrated in a rise of Immunoglobin E antibodies. That said, there are many people with Immunoglobulin E antibodies who do not react to the foods that this suggests. Allergies affect the immune system. Even people who have had genuine food allergies as children, may not have them as adults. Sometimes people develop allergies for unknown reasons. One of the most effective ways of deciding whether there is a food allergy or not, is by using a "food challenge". This involves giving some one a suspect food disguised so that they do not recognise it, or a placebo food. In practice most doctors believe this to be time consuming, and in the case of peanuts for example, there is the possiblity of a frightening response.

For this report Dr. Reidl and his colleagues reviewed all the papers they could find on food allergies published between January 1988 and September 2009, more than 12,000 articles. In the end only 72 articles met their criteria which included having sufficient data for analysis and using rigorous tests for allergic responses.

Intolerances such as Lactose Intolerance, is due to the lack of sufficient enzymes in the body, to digest the sugar in milk. Sulfites in wine, can cause headaches for some, and this is again an Intolerance not an allergy.

During development, the immune system tends to react to certain food proteins, and can produce IgE antibodies, but these antibodies can be transient or inconsequential. By themselves pinprick tests and antibody tests are not sufficient to demonstrate food allergy. The people involved in this study hope that their report will lead to further research and clarify both the definition of, and testing for, food allergies.

Sleep and the Autistic child

The rate of sleep disturbance and sleep disorders is notably higher in children who have other health or developmental disorders. Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Autism have particular difficulties in sensory processing. These can be general or specific to that child. There are ways to assist children affected by these difficulties to improve their sleep pattern and thus improve the whole families sleep.

Patterns and routines are even more important as they cue the child to expect the next consequence or next event. Having a good, simple, regular routine is comforting to a child. Other sensory assistance in getting the child to be calm and ready to sleep can be successfully used in different formats, different intensities and variations to meet the child's sensory needs.

Using "heavy work" concentrates the child's energy and calms. Pushing a weighted basket round an obstacle course can be fun. The basket should be heavy and require effort but not so heavy as to strain the child pushing it. Playing wheelbarrow games where the child is the wheelbarrow may also be helpful. Again, this requires concentration of effort.

Some children benefit from the use of a weighted blanket. There are a variety of manufacturers who produce these. The blanket may be weighted with a variety of fillings. Ideally the weight of the blanket should be about 2.2Kgs heavier than the child. Tucking a child in a weighted blanket offers firm pressure over the body and for some children this is very comforting. It can feel a little like being swaddled, held comfortably without the need for someone to do the holding.

Using white noise in the bedroom can help some children because it blocks other noise and reduces distraction. For some children the same techniques which help children settle to sleep and remain asleep are every bit as effective for children affected by Autism and Autistic spectrum disorders. It simply requires more repetition before the child can relax and settle into the routine.

Every child is different. What works for one child may be less effective for another and it can take a while trying and repeating things to identify the most effective routine and resource for your child.

If you would like help with your child's sleep, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Children and choices.

Children have very little control of their lives. Parents will make all the decisions for them. To give them some control, it is good to offer them simple choices. As they learn to make these choices, they learn the consequenses of them and to take responsibility at their own level, for the decisions they make. Choices should be simple, between A or B.

The more choice a child has the more confused they become and the more difficult the choice. From a very early age children should be given choices to make which give them a feeling of control without becoming battle ground between child and parent.

A child who learns early in life to make choices for themselves is more secure in that they realise and appreciate that every decision comes with a consequence. Choosing not to wear wellingtons and stomping in puddles results in wet feet! Choosing to wear a summer dress on a winter day makes life cold and uncomfortable.

If your child is used to making simple decisions for themselves then they are more co-operative when you decide that it is now your turn to make the decision for them. The child becomes more self aware and more responsible, within the limits of their age and stage of development.

Learn to trust your child and let them make some simple decisons for themselves.

How long does it take to alter sleep behaviour?

If your child has a sleep difficulty it is important that that difficulty is first clearly identified. There are a range of sleep disorders which children and adults can experience.
Once that difficulty is identified, through a detailed history, and the duration of the problem is known, it can take as little as four to six weeks to resolve.

When a child has another underlying health issue, or has a handicapping condition, it may take three to four months to properly resolve the sleep difficulty.

The main requirement in following any behaviour altering programme, is that the routines set are consisitent and this can require a great deal of effort from parents and carers. Being consistent with a child when you yourself have a sleep deficit is not always easy. There are always times when it is much simpler to give in, to accept a level of unwanted and/or antisocial behaviour, than to be firm and insist that a set behaviour has a consistent consequence.

Circadian Rhythm disorders require the greatest comittment as the behaviour alteration has not only to alter the body clock, but to maintain that alteration for at least two or three months longer than the original duration of the difficulty. Even at that, altering routines by as much or as little as one hour can upset the system and require a "re start". This can try the motivation of the young person as well as the patience of the parents.

That said, the resolution of these difficulties brings enormous rewards in the entire body system, mental health and attitude to life.

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Children with ADHD and sleep.

Attention Defficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a common condition that begins in childhood and may persist into adulthood. Children with ADHD typically have trouble sitting still, staying focused, and/or controlling their behavior and emotions, which can lead to poor social skills, isolation, dependence, and poor performance in school.

ADHD is linked with a variety of sleep problems. For example, one recent study found that children with ADHD had higher rates of daytime sleepiness than children without ADHD. Another study found that 50% of children with ADHD had signs of sleep disordered breathing, compared to only 22% of children without ADHD. Research also suggests that restless legs syndrome and periodic leg movement syndrome are also common in children with ADHD.

In general, sleep deprivation is a problem among children. A 2004 "Sleep in America" poll, more than two-thirds of children experience one or more sleep problems at least a few nights a week. For children with ADHD, poor sleep (too little sleep or symptoms of sleep disorders) may profoundly impact ADHD symptoms. In fact, one study found that treating sleep problems may be enough to eliminate attention and hyperactivity issues for some children.


Children who experience sleep deficit may be moody, emotionally explosive, and/or aggressive as a result.In one study involving 2,463 children aged 6-15, children with sleep problems were more likely to be inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive, and display oppositional behaviours.

Treating sleep problems in children and adults with ADHD may improve symptoms and quality of life.

If you would like help to improve your child's sleep, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Difficulty in settling young children to sleep

Difficulties in settling to sleep are often under diagnosed in infants and toddlers. Parental behaviours which reduce the child’s independence about sleep, for example requiring a parental presence, or being put to bed once asleep, are the primary grounds for the development of settling difficulties. Potentially, a small but chronic loss of sleep in childhood could directly affect the child’s behaviour and social competence, cognitive performance and physical condition.

Children who have short duration night sleep before 3.5 years of age show increased risk of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and poorer learning skills at 6 years of age compared with children who sleep for 11 hours a night.

Children who experience persistent short sleep duration in early infancy, are also at increased risk of obesity at 6 years. The importance of sleeping for at least 10 hours a night in early childhood is stressed, as the National Sleep Foundation poll suggests, for optimal child development.

If your child has difficulties in settling to sleep, Contact Dream-Angus and let us help you to help your child.

Attachment and separation issues

A study, partly funded by the National Science Foundation, and conducted by researchers at the University of Reading (in the United Kingdom), the University of Leiden (in the Netherlands), the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust (also in the U.K.), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign investigated Attachment Parenting theory.

This study, published in the March/April 2010 issue of the journal Child Development, suggests that children who cannot maintain a coherent strategy for coping with separation, are at greatest risk of later developing behavioural problems and becoming aggressive.

This study is a meta-analysis of 69 studies involving almost 6,000 children ages 12 and younger.

According to attachment theory, children with secure attachments have repeated experiences with caregivers who are responsive to their needs, and thus expect their caregivers to be available, and comforting when called upon. In contrast, children with insecure attachments, have an experience in which requests are discouraged, rejected, or responded to inconsistently, which is thought to make them vulnerable to developing behavioural problems.

The researchers sought to clarify the extent to which bonds between children and their mothers early in life, affect children's behavioural problems later, such as aggression or hostility. Behaviour problems were measured up to age 12. The studies included in their review used a range of methods for assessing children's behaviour problems, including parent and teacher questionnaires and direct observations.

If you consider all the small separations which allow your child to practice separation from mum and dad, like sleeping in their own bed, staying with another carer, attending nursery or creche it becomes even more obvious that these small events allow your child to develop coping skills. Children who never experience such small scale "practice" have much more difficulty in coping, not just with the separations life brings, but with many other events, for which they are totally unprepared.


If you would like help and support to move your child to their own bed;- Contact Dream-Angus

Bouncing to the beat.

How many mums-to-be have noted the increased movement of their unborn child in apparent response to music? Well, now psychologist Marcel Zentner, from the Univeristy of York, and his colleague Tuomas Eerola, from the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Music Research at the University of Jyvaskyla, in Finland, have detailed their findings of infants responses to music, in the March 15 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

This research showed babies respond to the rhythm and tempo of music, and find it more engaging than speech. The findings, based on a study of 120 infants between 5 months and 2 years old, suggest that humans may be born with a predisposition to move rhythmically in response to music.


"Our research suggests that it is the beat rather than other features of the music, such as the melody, that produces the response in infants," said researcher Marcel Zentner, a psychologist at the University of York in England. "We also found that the better the children were able to synchronize their movements with the music, the more they smiled."

During the experiments the babies were sat on a parents lap. The adults wore headphones so that they could not hear the music, and were asked to sit still so that they could not affect the babies responses.

To test the babies', the researchers played recordings of classical music, rhythmic beats and speech to infants, and videotaped the results. They also recruited professional ballet dancers to analyze how well the babies matched their movements to the music.

The researchers found the babies moved their arms, hands, legs, feet, torsos and heads in response to the music, much more than to speech. Though the ability appears to be innate in humans, the researchers aren't sure why it evolved.

Parenting and infant sleep

It is becoming more fashionable these days to co-sleep. Co sleeping is accepted as a "norm" in Asian countries, and becoming part of "attachment parenting" in the West. Co sleeping has it's attractions and, as with every parenting style, those who believe it is the best possible thing to do, and those who warn of the dangers. There should be in all things a balance. Co sleeping while breast feeding an infant has benefits for mother and child. There should be a recognised time when co-sleeping is no longer an option.

A recent study reported in the Sleep Science Review journal looked at the effects of adult behaviour on infant sleep. Parental behaviours, particularly related to bedtime routines and interactions are recognised as having an effect on infant sleep patterns. It appears that parental personality, and related views on parenting, and emotions. contribute to parental sleep-related behaviours. This ultimately influences infant sleep. These links are effective in both directions, and they are dynamic. This means that poor infant sleep may influence parental behaviours, and poor infant sleep is recognised as being a family stressor and a risk factor for maternal depression.

In another study by Professor Mindell, it is reported that both mum and child.miss out on one stage of sleep when they co-sleep. There is certainly room for more work, looking at the effects of missing this stage of sleep, and at the effects of co sleeping which is prolonged beyond 6-9 months.

While co sleeping is a parental choice, setting a time after which the child will be in their own room in their own bed, is something which should be agreed and adhered to by both parents, in the interests of the child and of their own relationship.

When should sleep training start?

Training your child to sleep should begin as soon as possible. We teach our children to become reliant on us by always holding, rocking, allowing baby to suck and fall asleep when we are present. This builds the idea in the child's mind that falling asleep is difficult without the associated presence and action.

From only 8 weeks babies have a rudimentary rhythm to their sleep/wake cycle. They may not have such a good routine around food but it is developing. The earlier we encourage babies to fall asleep without us the easier it is for baby and parent to become confident about this. Of course if baby is unwell the demand for comfort and cuddles increases. Learning to anticipate baby's needs and recognise wants is an important part of parenting.

Children's needs should always be met, unconditionally. In the real world our desires/wants are not always me and it is easier to teach children this life lesson early. It is also kinder not to allow them to expect that they are always going to be given the things they desire as well as the things they need.

Baby should be put down in a safe sleeping place when he or she is drowsy but aware that this is what is happening. This will build security and independance into sleep time. If you are confident that things are fine baby will be confident too.

If you struggle to establish a routine for your little one, contact Dream-Angus, we can help you to teach your child this valuable lesson.

Sleep patterns in infants.

We expect babies to wake frequently through the night for feeds and for comfort. Most healthy term babies no longer require feeds at night when they are about 6 months old. Some stop looking for a mid night feed before that. Others are used to this feed and are reluctant to go without but usually they can be gently disuaded from maintaining this habit.

What may surprise mums, is that babies who are exposed only to daylight in the first few weeks of life demonstrate the begining of a sleep wake pattern at as early as 60 days/8 weeks. Starting to "sleep train" infants from this early stage could be highly effective.

When we start to discern a pattern to an infants sleep/wake periods the patterns could be reinforced by ensuring that naps are taken in daylight with normal ambient household noise, and night sleep started when the daylight fades. This follows our primeval sleep/wake pattern which we have adapted by using electric light and altering our lifestyles.

Learn to recognise your infants "sleepy signals". If your child is demonstrating these signs then take advantage of this and put your child to bed. There is only a short window when you can successfully persuade an infant to nap. Miss that slot and baby has gone beyond napping, got a second wind and become fussy and reluctant to settle.

If you would like help to improve your child's sleep Contact Dream-Angus.com

Children's sleep difficulties.

Children's sleep difficulties vary with the age and developmental stage of the child. They can be simple with a single cause and a quick solution, or they can be complex with more than one difficulty. It is always important to differentiate between a genuine sleep difficulty and a physical or psychological problem. The most common sleep difficulties are related to going to bed, getting to sleep, and staying asleep all night without interruption.


Some children are resistant to bed time. They always want another story, another drink or snack, and generally put off the time when they must go to bed. For some children this is because they are fearful of being alone, of the dark or because they have had bad dreams, or fear bad things lurking in their room. Developing a good short recognisable pre bed routine which allows the child to quiet their thoughts and calm before bed is helpful and there are simple reassuring measures that parents can take to make the experience less worrying.


Learning to go to sleep without requiring any other stimulation is entirely possible. Always being be held, fed, rocked or to have a parent present, leads the child to believe that without these contacts and reassurances they cannot get to sleep by themselves. In fact every child can get to sleep without these associations but some take longer to learn this. Parents who have had difficulties in getting their child to sleep may inadvertantly create a situation where the child will not sleep without their presence and this has to be unlearned.


Although sleep is considered to be a quiet activity this is not always the case. Most children have between five and eight periods of lighter sleep when they may waken. If they required a parental presence to get them to sleep at bed time, they will require this again when their lighter sleep results in a night waking. Adults also have these periods of lighter sleep but they are usually aware that this is light sleep and may change their position and return to sleep without a full awareness of having been lightly asleep. Children have to learn to do this too.

If you need help to teach your child to sleep Contact us at Dream-Angus.com

The Fourth Shift

While a great deal of research has looked at sleep and children's sleep patterns the sociological effects of childrens sleep on that of their parents, has been largely ignored. Last year a sociological study examined how couples with children have their sleep influenced by caring for their child or children.

The key concerns were not only related to caring for young children and their physical needs at night, but also how the nature of caring for older children impacts on parents sleep. A number of couples aged 20-59 with both younger and older children took part in the study which involved completing auditory sleep dairies, individual in depth interviews, and follow up interviews.

It is not really a surprise to find that the physical and emotional care of young children at night was largely provided by women, with a lack of explicit negotiation between partners about who should provide this care, even when the woman returns to work. Overall considerably more women than men continued their daytime and evening employment, as well as undertaking a third shift, or sentient activity, for their family into the night. This resulted in a fourth shift where physical caring and sentient activities continued.

As a consequense mothers were more likely to subjugate their sleep needs to those of the family. Fathers, in general, did not undertake this fourth night time shift. Those fathers who did, were more likely to be fathers of older children who were staying out late at night, with their focus of concern being the safety of the children.

If you find your children are demanding during the night and you would like to alter this behaviour, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Migraines and Sleep Related Breathing Disorders.

Children who experience migrane headaches are more likely than the rest of the population to have sleep disorders, which are related to how they breathe while asleep. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, where breathing is discontinued for 15 seconds or more while the child is asleep, is a recognised sleep disorder. Often this can be simply resolved by removal of large tonsils and/or adenoids. Other children experience this problem because they are overweight, or for other physical reasons.

Children with sleep related breathing disorders may wake suddenly in the night, when the brain announces a lack of oxgyen, and demands a breath be taken. This can result in a sudden, and to the child, inexplicable and terrifying waking, and may be accompanied by an associated gasp as the required breath is taken.

A study by Dr. S. Kothare looked at children who reported having regular headaches. The study found that children with migrane were twice as likely to also have obstructive sleep apnoea. This same study found that children with tension headache also grind their teeth at night.

Migraine in children, is a big and separate subject. It is not always reported as headache, and can, depending on the age of the child, be reported as abdominal pain. The relationship between sleep disordered breathing and headache, migraine and tension headache should be brought to the attention of parents so that appropriate investigations, advice and treatment can be obtained. Migraine is associated with a shorter total sleep time, a longer total time to fall asleep and a shorter period of Rapid Eye Movement sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea occurs in 2% of children. It can develop at any age, but is most common in pre school children (3-6 years). At this stage of life the tonsils and adenoids are large compared to the throat. The rate of occurance is the same regardless of gender. It is more common where another family member has the same disorder, and it is common in obese children.

If your child regularly wakes suddenly, with a sharp cry in the night, you should consider your family's sleep patterns and possibly seek advice regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

If you would like more information Contact Dream-Angus.com

Calming babies and children under 1 year.

The most difficult thing in getting a young child to sleep when they are resisting, is getting the child to be calm enough to relax and become drowsy. There are a number of simple techniques which can help with this.
If the child is still a baby and not yet mobile, there are the much lauded "4 S's"

Swaddling a baby is conforting, gives a feeling of being held without the need for a parent or carer to hold the child. It provides "deep pressure", avoids waking from the startle (moro) reflex when hand coordination is not fully developed, and for a majority of babies helps to calm.

Shuushing, providing background noise which reduces the effects of sudden loud noise and replicates the noises heard by baby while in the womb.

Sucking is calming for most babies unless they have reflux and associate this with pain. Using a comforter/pacifier/dummy to calm a baby is good but they should not be left in the mouth until the child is asleep or they may become dependant on this aid.

Shoogling, the short gentle movements which replicate the gentle movements felt as mum went about her day before delivering baby. Some parents use a swing, stroller, or rock baby in their arms.

All of the above in a variety of intensity and combinations will soothe a distressed baby. Unless a child is calm getting them to sleep is virtually impossible. Having a recognisable routine which is always done in the same order at the same time is reassuring for every child and the older the child the more important that routine is. This makes some certainties in the child's life. If a certain set of circumstances occur, then the anticipated response is also familiar and it is easy for the child to give the appropriate response. Our children want to please us and having at least one thing which they recognise and know how to respond to, helps build confidence in an otherwise uncertain world.

Some parents, who struggle with settling and sleep issues resort to the use of medications, or homeopathic, or herbal remedies. These may help but do not address the root cause of the undesirable behaviour. Adults come to rely on the administration of these products to acheive a calm and sleepy child. The child also learns that sleep can only be accomplished by the use of such substances. This is not a healthy route to sleep. It does not allow the development of independant abilities to self soothe to sleep. This can become a long term issue which, when behavioural interventions are used would be short lived.

There are very few occasions when it is appropriate to medicate to sleep. While there are treatments which will achieve this they are not without side effects and they do not address the problem, they only treat the symptoms.

If you have difficulties settling your child, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Depression in teenagers

Professor Gangwisch, of Columbia University College in New York, is the lead author of a recent study published in the journal Sleep which looked at the theory that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for depression.

Those of us working with children and families have always been aware that many young people spend their formative years chronically sleep deprived. As a result they are tired and inattentive and more prone to obesity,hypertension and depression.

Researchers now believe that sleep deprivation is directly linked to depression and suicidal thoughts, making it much more difficult for these young people to cope with daily stresses and making it more difficult for them to engage with their peers and with adults.

Teens allowed to stay up to midnight are 24% more likely to suffer depression and 20% are more likely to consider self harm than those who have set bed times of 10pm. Adolescents who sleep for five or fewer hours per night are 71% more likley to suffer from depression and 48% are more likely to consider suicide than those who reported getting eight or more hours of sleep per night.

The more sleep adolescents and teenagers get the lower the rate of depression, and the better this is for both their mental and physical health. Nine hours of sleep per night is the recommended level for adolescents. Of the 15,000 students, aged between 12 and 17, who took part in this study, the average sleep duration was only 7hours and 53 minutes. Those with a bedtime of 10pm or earlier slept on average 33minutes longer than those who went to bed at 11pm and 40minutes longer than those who went to bed at midnight.

This highlights once again the important part a good nights sleep plays in mental and physical health and wellbeing. Teaching your children good sleep habits is vitally important. Recognising when things are going wrong and working to resolve sleep issues at an early stage is worthwhile from a health perspective. Ensuring that young people get regular exercise, fresh air and have a regular sleep pattern gives them the optimum start in life.

If your child has difficulties developing a good sleep pattern contact Dream-Angus, we can help you to help your child to a better sleep.