Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Miscellaneous Sleep Misbehaviors
CLIMBING OUT OF THE CRIB
- Premise
Once a child climbs out of a crib with the springs on
the lowest setting, he or she will definitely try to
climb out again and eventually will fall and possibly
get hurt.
- Response
Correct this hazard on the same day your child climbs
out. One solution is to put your child's mattress on
the floor. Another is to leave your child in the crib
with the crib railing down and a chair next to the bed
so he or she can easily get out. Eventually you can
transfer your child to a floor-level bed.
NAP REFUSAL
- The rule
"Don't leave your room during quiet time." Every day
after lunch, you or your child's caretaker can expect
him to spend 60 to 90 minutes resting in his room.
During this time he may read, but may not turn on the
radio or TV.
- Discipline technique
Return your child to his room if he comes out before 60
to 90 minutes are up. If he comes out a second time,
close the door temporarily.
BEDTIME NEGATIVISM
- Examples
Your child refuses to put on her pajamas, lie down,
close her eyes, or stay in bed.
- The rule
"Stay in your bedroom after we put you to bed."
- Discipline technique
Natural consequences. Your child will eventually become
tired and go to sleep. Your child can't be forced to
fall asleep. Insisting on any of the actions mentioned
above is unnecessary - it doesn't matter if your child
sleeps on the floor in her daytime clothing.
PLAYING AND TALKING IN THE BEDROOM AFTER BEDTIME
- The rule
"After bedtime you have to be quiet so that your mind
will be able to go to sleep."
- Discipline technique
Logical consequences. For every night that children
stay up, fight, play, or make noise, they will be put to
bed 15 minutes earlier the following night. If one
child in particular tries to keep the other one up, that
child can be sent to bed 1 hour earlier.
- Praise
Praise your children the following morning for going to
sleep without a fuss.
WANDERING OR PROWLING ABOUT DURING THE NIGHT
- Examples
Some children awaken during the night and move about the
house getting into trouble. They may raid the
refrigerator or leave it open. They may watch TV, or
turn on the stove or water faucet. Unlike sleepwalkers,
they are awake.
- The rule
"If you wake up during the night, except for going to
the bathroom, you have to stay in your room."
- Discipline technique
Nighttime restriction to the bedroom. Because of the
safety issues, until children are safety-conscious
(namely, at age 4 or 5), they need a barricade to keep
them in their bedrooms. This can be a gate, plywood
plank, or locked door. A chain lock (hotel lock) can
keep your child in the room, yet allow him to open the
door partially in case he needs to cry out for someone.
If your child is one who needs to urinate during the
night, a pot can be placed in his room. After 4 years
of age most children will stay in their rooms if they
awaken early and have been told they're expected to stay
and play quietly.
SLEEPING WITH THE PARENTS
- The rule
"Stay in your room during the night. Starting tonight
we sleep in separate beds. We have our room and you
have your room. You have your bed and we have our bed.
You are too old to sleep with us anymore." Since many
normal children sleep with their parents during the
early years, the parents must decide if they want to
discourage it.
- Discipline technique
If your child crawls into your bed, she should be
sternly ordered back to her own bed. If she doesn't
move, she can be escorted back immediately without any
conversation. If your child usually doesn't awaken you
when she crawls into your bed, use a signaling device
that will awaken you if your child enters your bedroom
(for instance, a chair placed against your door that
will fall when it is moved or a loud bell attached to
your doorknob). Some parents simply lock their bedroom
door. Another approach is to put a barrier in front of
your child's bedroom door.
WANTING TO CHOOSE HIS OR HER OWN BEDTIME
- Assumption
Adolescents should be able to take care of their own
sleep requirements before going off to college.
- The rule
"Stay up as late as you want, but it's your
responsibility to get yourself up in the morning with an
alarm clock and to get to school on time. Also, you
can't make any noise after the rest of the family has
turned in."
- Discipline technique
Natural consequences.
RELATED TOPICS
Bedtime Refusal
Trained Night Crier
Nightmares
Night Terrors
Prevention of Sleep Problems
Sleeping with the Parents (Bed-Sharing)
Sleepwalking
|
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
|
Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems
|
|