A Common Developmental Concern: Sleep

Sleep

Sleep is especially important for infants and toddlers; their brains are rapidly developing as they grow. Sleep is one of the most common challenges for which parents and caregivers of children aged three or younger seek help from Early Intervention Services.

The Impact to a Child and Families

We all need our sleep. When an infant or toddler is not sleeping well, other family members are usually also affected. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and siblings may also be feeling the effects of disrupted or limited quality sleep of an infant or child under the age of three years old. Parents and/or caregivers may be feeling exhausted, frustrated, and low on patience.

If a child is not getting enough total sleep and family members are feeling the effects, this is when we encourage parents and/or caregivers to reach out to us at Early Intervention Services.

It is beneficial to the child and the family to reach out to us for an evaluation and the earlier the sleeping problem is addressed, the easier it will be for the child and their family to make improvements. We have found that working with families while a child is still sleeping in a crib is easier than when moved to a toddler bed. Either way, improvements in sleep are possible.

Getting Started is as Easy as 1, 2, 3

Get Started

Our Approach

At Early Intervention Services, our services start with a free evaluation which is an opportunity for our multi-disciplinary team to meet with you and your child to listen and learn more about your specific concerns. Our team will conduct a broad evaluation of your child in five areas as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The areas include adaptive skills (e.g., self-care skills such as feeding and sleeping), personal/social, communication including expressive and receptive, motor skills including gross and fine motor skills, and finally, play skills.

If your child is found to be eligible for Early Intervention services, our team will work with your family to develop an individualized service plan based on your concerns and priorities.

Our approach centers on a coaching model that is family focused. Our staff offers ideas and suggestions that can be incorporated into a family’s daily routine, accommodating each family’s values and cultures. Our services are flexible and adaptive to each family’s unique situation.

During the initial evaluation, we may ask some of the following questions in order to understand more about what is going on:

How many total sleeping hours in a day is your child getting?

Is the child napping and at what times during the day?

Tell us about your bedtime routine.

Where is the child sleeping at night?

Is the child getting up during the night and, if so, how frequently?

Are they regularly falling asleep in their car seat?

Answers to such questions help our staff offer suggestions to address your concerns and to help you and your family consider ideas that may help your child sleep more.

Rest assured, addressing sleep challenges for an infant or child three years old or younger is possible and we have worked with hundreds of families to improve their child’s sleep which helps the overall health and well-being of the family. A key factor in achieving positive results is that the caregivers and families are ready to work on improving the quality of sleep for their toddler or infant. This support and willingness to try to make changes greatly assists the benefits of our services.

Goals for a Child’s Sleep

The primary goal related to a child’s sleep is to ensure the child is getting enough total hours of sleep so they are rested and energized. All human beings function better when sufficient sleep is received.

Quality sleep is important. A quality nap should be a minimum of 45 minutes to provide benefit. Every human being rises from deep sleep naturally, typically between three to four hours. We tend to go right back to sleep so most likely do not even remember this transition. The goal is to have an infant or toddler be able to fall back asleep on their own when their sleep cycle hits that three-to-four-hour timeframe. This is not realistic for an infant less than four months old, as developmentally they have not yet achieved an important milestone where they have learned to fuss or cry to get attention. Prior to four months old, they are naturally crying or fussing because they are hungry or need to be changed.

Common Scenarios That May Negatively Affect Sleeping Habits for a Child

Every child is different and there is not one formula that will help every child sleep more and through the night. However, below are three situations that you may want to assess to see if any of these may be affecting your child’s sleeping habits.

It’s Too Quiet

Normal noise is encouraged. Speak in your everyday voice. It is beneficial for a child to learn to fall asleep with normal ‘household’ noise happening. Many new parents try to have absolute silence; they are whispering while the baby is sleeping and walking around quietly. We encourage you to let life happen around the infant and toddler as they nap and go down for the night. Let the dog bark and the cell phone ring.

The sleeping area is not separated

To help an infant or toddler sleep and learn to fall asleep on their own, it is important that they have some visible barrier so they are not able to see you or others who may distract them as they try to fall asleep. Setting up a screen or hanging a bed sheet creates a simple and safe ‘barrier’ to set off their sleeping area whether in a crib, toddler bed, or bed to help them close their eyes and not be stimulated by seeing others.

Moving a Sleeping Child

It is recommended not to have a child fall asleep regularly in one place and then move them to another for the rest of the night. This disrupts the child’s sleep and may make it more difficult for the child to learn how to fall asleep on their own.

Five Tips to Help Improve a Child’s Sleep

Here are five tips from one of our Early Intervention Services certified sleep consultants at Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention Services to help with sleep concerns.

Try an Earlier Bedtime.

Parents and caregivers raise concerns, but we have found that a child will sleep longer and be better rested for the next day.

Establish a bedtime routine that is not in the bedroom.

For children where the bedtime routine is becoming a challenge with the child wanting another book, more water, or another hug, try moving the routine out of the bedroom.

Prepare a bedtime routine that has visual references.

Using visual references of the steps in the bedtime routine can be helpful for a toddler to see and understand what is going to happen every night.

For older toddlers, introduce the concept of three calls.

Not staying in bed once put down to sleep can be challenging for parents and caregivers at the end of a long day. For an older toddler, try the idea of having three calls for mom or papa or nana. They call out for you to come in the room, you check on them, and you inform them that they have two more calls.

Prepare for vacation or changes in where a child will be sleeping

A change in where a child will be sleeping can be challenging and disruptive to a child’s sleeping patterns. If you are planning a vacation or trip, try practicing where the child will be sleeping. If they will be sleeping in a pack and play, set up the pack and play in a highly trafficked area where you live prior to the trip as a test and have the child try it out for a night or two before you go away.

Experienced and Dedicated Professionals

Developmental Specialists

Certified Sleep Specialists

Early Intervention Services is fortunate to offer highly-skilled, experienced professionals who can meet with you and your child to learn more about what is going on and provide ideas and suggestions to consider.

Our professionals include developmental specialists and Certified Sleep Specialists who will first meet with you and your child, do a lot of listening to understand the situation and your concerns regarding sleep and then work with you and your child to offer tips and ideas to help the child’s sleeping patterns.