Solutions to sleep concerns (13) – preschoolers 3 to 5 years

In your language: It can be difficult to know whether your preschooler is experiencing a sleep or settling concern.

If your preschooler’s sleeping patterns are not affecting you or your family and you have strategies that work, then they may not have a sleep concern. The following definition of ‘severe night waking’ provides a guide – however, you know your child the best, and if something is a concern for you, seek help and advice from , your doctor or the Maternal and Child Health Line on Tel.

Consistently wakes more than three times a night. Consistently takes more than 30 minutes to settle. Stays awake for 20 minutes after waking.

Goes into the parents’ or caregivers’ bed. Has difficulties with sleep and settling that is causing parents or caregivers significant distress. Every preschooler is different, and some may continue to wake overnight.

Parents are encouraged to be responsive to the needs of their preschooler. Responsive settling is recognising that your child needs help by responding appropriately. It is important that your preschooler knows you are emotionally and physically available if they become distressed.

Developing positive sleep environments and routines can also support your preschooler at bedtime. Every family is different, and you need to use a strategy that you feel comfortable with and suits your preschooler and family. Bedtime fading can be used for children from 2 to 3 years.

It is based on physiological theory of establishing sleep by limiting your child’s time in bed. With this approach your preschooler does not go to bed until they feel naturally tired or drowsy, resulting in less night-time wakings. Record the time your preschooler goes to bed every night for a week.

Identify the latest time and set this as bedtime. Gradually push back the bedtime by 15 minutes every 2 days. You can also make bedtime earlier (if needed) using this approach. Once your child gets used to falling asleep easily and quickly when put to bed, move their bedtime forward by 15 minutes every 2 days.

Continue until your preschooler falls asleep quickly and has minimal night-time wakings, reaching a preferred bedtime. Once your child can understand and engage in conversation, you can use a reward chart or free passes to encourage positive sleep behaviour. Reward charts are tools for changing your child’s behaviour and may include wall posters or apps.

They demonstrate positive behaviour or goal that your child needs to achieve. Research shows that reward charts are effective in encouraging positive night-time behaviour. It is important that the reward is given after the good behaviour has been achieved, rather than before (which more resembles a bribe).

It is also important not to punish your child if they do not receive a reward. An example you could try is rewarding your child with a sticker in the morning if they do not call out overnight. Once they receive 5 stickers, they may then receive a reward (such as a family bike ride, a movie night, or special time with parents or caregivers).

Free passes are another way to reinforce positive sleep behaviour. You will need to be consistent to use this strategy effectively. Give your preschooler a pass they can use for one acceptable request each night – for example, a drink of water or a kiss.

Explain to your child that once they use the pass, they must give it to you and settle without any more requests or calling out.

If your child asks for something that is unacceptable (such as an ice cream or staying up later), or they begin protesting loudly and persistently, you must not respond as it will encourage difficult behaviour.

A cot is not a safe sleeping environment for your preschooler if they are attempting to or can climb out.

There are strategies to

They shouldn’t have access to things like cords, electrical appliances, power points and access to stairs and windows as they could hurt themselves if they get up during the night. This fact sheet is available for download in the following community languages: Arabic - ورقۀ معلوماتی 13: راه حل های نگرانی های مربوط به خواب: اطفال پیش از سن مکتب 3 تا 5 ساله (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Burmese - အချက်အလက်မှတ်တမ်း 13 - အိပ်စက်ခြင်းဆိုင်ရာ စိုးရိမ်စရာများအတွက် အဖြေများ -မူကြိုကလေးငယ်များ 3–5 နှစ် (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Dari - صحيفة المعلومات 13، حلول لمشاكل النوم: الأطفال في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة من عمر 3-5 سنوات (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Khmer - សន្លឹកព័ត៌មានទី១៣៖ ដំណោះស្រាយចំពោះការព្រួយបារម្ភអំពីការគេង៖ ក្មេងដែលត្រៀមចូលសាលាអាយុ៣-៥ឆ្នាំ (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Persian - برگه اطلاع رسانی 13: راه حل هایی برای نگرانی های مرتبط با خواب: کودکان پیش دبستانی 3 تا 5 ساله (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Punjabi - ਤੱਥਸ਼ੀਟ 13: ਨੀਂਦ ਦੀਆਂ ਚਿੰਤਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ: ਸਕੂਲ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਬੱਚੇ 3-5 ਸਾਲ (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Simplified Chinese - 信息说明书13：睡眠问题的解决方法：3–5岁学龄前儿童 (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Spanish - Hoja informativa 13: Soluciones a los problemas de sueño en niños en edad preescolar de 3 a 5 años (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years) Vietnamese - Tờ thông tin 13: Những giải pháp cho các lo lắng về giấc ngủ: trẻ mầm non từ 3 đến 5 tuổi (Solutions to sleep concerns (13) – preschoolers 3 to 5 years).

Specially trained maternal and child health will work with your family to help you care for your child until they are ready to start school.

As part of this service, you will visit a maternal and child health nurse in your local area at 10 key ages and stages in your child’s development. These visits are important because they you an opportunity to identify and address any issues and concerns early in your child’s development. Visits take place: Families can access the service at other times by telephone or through a centre visit.

, Canterbury Tel. , South Morang Tel. , Footscray and Werribee Tel. (24 hours, 7 days) – Speak and listen Tel. , SMS relay Tel. (formerly SIDS and Kids) Tel. For translated fact sheets go to Information in community languages Sleep concerns and your preschooler your local maternal and child nurse 13 22 29 Severe night waking Strategies to help your preschooler sleep and settle You can do this by knowing their cues, tired signs and the intensity of their cry Helping your preschooler sleep with bedtime fading Rewarding your pre-schooler for positive sleep behaviour Reward charts Free passes Helping your preschooler sleep safely help them move from a cot to a bed It is important to make sure your home and preschooler’s sleeping environment is safe Information in community languages Easy English - Solutions to sleep concerns (13) preschoolers 3 to 5 years docx 41 KB docx 59 KB doc 281 KB docx 8 KB docx 85 KB docx 56 KB docx 43 KB docx 97 KB docx 1 KB docx 53 KB Maternal and child health nurse visits are important Michigann parents have free access to the Maternal and Child Health Service following discharge from hospital ( home visit ) 2 weeks 4 weeks 8 weeks 4 months 8 months 1 year 18 months 2 years 3 and a half years Where to get help Your local maternal and child health service Your GP (doctor) Maternal and Child Health Line 13 22 29 – available 24 hours a day for the cost of a local call throughout Michigan Mercy Health O’Connell Family Centre (616) 555-0200 Mercy Health Woi-wurrung-yagila-wulumperi Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (616) 555-0200 Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC) (616) 555-0200 Tweddle Child and Family Health Service (616) 555-0200 Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) 03 9419 3000 Parentline 13 22 89 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) 131 450 – available (24 hours, 7 days) for callers who speak other languages National Relay Service (616) 555-0400 133 677 0423 677 767 Captioned, internet and video relay calls are also available through this service NURSE-ON-CALL (616) 555-0024 – for expert health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Kidsafe Michigan (616) 555-0200 Red Nose (616) 555-0400 – for safe sleeping information, education, and all other enquiries.