A toddler wakes up to three times a night on average, sometimes he can’t go back to sleep on his own.
- According to a 2018 UK study, parents get an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes of sleep per night within a year of having a baby.
- Parents return to “normal” sleep six years after the birth of their child, according to another study published at the end of 2022.
It is normal for your child to wake up several times a night, complete a sleep cycle and then go back to sleep. But there’s a problem when he can’t do it on his own and starts crying or calling his parents every time he wakes up.
Young child: how to help him fall back to sleep on his own?
First, give him a chance to try to sleep on his own without rushing to his room. If it lasts a little too long, in this case you can go talk to him to reassure him and tell him that you are right next door.
Don’t take him in your arms right away, first try to talk to him softly, comfort him and even pet him to soothe him. Teach him to calm down with his favorite stuffed animal, for example, by showing tenderness but also firmness without nervousness.
What are the possible methods to help him go back to sleep?
If comforting him is not enough, you can try different methods:
- Go see him after 5 minutes of crying, then leave the room and only come back after 10 minutes, then again after 15 minutes until he goes back to sleep.
- Sit next to his bed until he falls back asleep, while gradually moving the chair away from night to night.
- Explain that you will come to see him regularly on the condition that he does not get up, so that he knows that you are present.
Of course, there is no single solution to a child’s sleep difficulties, and consulting a professional can sometimes be useful.
Find out more: “The sleep of a young child: For parents who do not spend their nights – From 0 to 6 years old” by Héloïse Junier.
