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.

Daytime napping

When a child is born most of the day is spent in sleep. During sleep the brain is growing and although asleep the child is seldom completely quiet. During the first three months it is not usually difficult to settle an infant. As long as the infant is fed and comfortable sleep will usually follow.

Children who do not settle quickly and easily at this stage often have reflux to some extent, or are victims of "colic". Reflux should be treated, as the issues this causes are often prolonged and difficult to resolve otherwise. Colic usually peaks at 3/4 months and is seldom an issue after that time, with the notable exception of children who have allergies to lactose.

Children need to have regular daytime naps. At first three scheduled naps during daytime until they are about 6/7 months when two naps making a total daytime sleep of 4 hours is the goal. When night sleep is disturbed some parents think that removing a nap time will increase night sleep. Unfortunately this is far from the case. If daytime naps are reduced the child is too tired to settle properly at night so night waking may become more frequent.

By the 6/7 month stage baby should be sleeping through the night for 10 hours and having two naps, the second of which should be completed by 3/3.30pm if the child is on a "wake at 7am bed at 7pm" schedule.

Working on improving daytime naps is easier on parents who are more awake and more patient during the day, and has a knock on effect of improving the child's night sleep, which is easier for parents too.

By 3 years of age one single 1 hour nap is enough and by 4 years most children no longer require naps. As daytime naps reduce night sleep should be slightly longer and eventually even out at 10-11.5 hours.

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