Having a fear of going to bed can be daunting for both children and their parents. For many parents, it’s the monotonous routine of having to comfort their child until they fall asleep every night. This fear in children can be extremely common, so much so that it’s even been given its own term – “sleep fear”. With the right support from parents, it is possible to help a child through sleep fear.
A child experiencing sleep fear may be scared of the dark, have nightmares, bed wetting, or have worries or anxiety around sleeping alone. The fear can present itself in many different ways so it’s important to be able to identify these symptoms and address the root cause. Sleep fear in children is incredibly normal – it is a natural part of a child’s development.
The trick is to understand what’s causing the fear and provide clear support. For younger children, this means offering lots of love, comfort, and reassurance. For older children, it may require slightly more complex methods, such as the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Identifying Sleep Fears in Children
Being able to identify sleep fears in your child is absolutely essential in providing the right support. Common signs of sleep fear in children include difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or cries for help in the middle of the night. If your child has suddenly become afraid of the dark or won’t sleep alone, these can also be signs of sleep fear.
Children are often too young to be able to express what they’re feeling to their parents. When this happens, parents need to be patient and try to look for physical and emotional cues that can further help understand the root of sleep fear in their child.
Encouraging Positive Sleep Habits in Your Child
Once parents have identified the sleep fear in their child, it’s important to put into place strategies to address the fear. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is an important part of this process. A good sleep routine involves plenty of daytime activity, a regular bedtime, and guaranteed quiet time before bed.
It’s also beneficial to create a cosy and relaxing sleeping environment for your child. Having a comfortable bed, soft pillows, blackout curtains, and a nightlight can be useful in helping create a soothing space for sleep. Separating concerns from bedtime is important, it is helpful to limit screen time and stimulatory activities before bedtime.
Having a reward system also works wonders for children struggling with sleep fears. It’s important to provide rewards without bribery as this can cause a child to keep asking for rewards in order to sleep.
Helpful Tools to Address Children’s Sleep Fears
- Offering comfort objects like special blankets, stuffed animals, or socks.
- Creating a safe space with limited distractions and calming sensations.
- Using calming music, visual imagery, and aromatherapy.
- Including physical activity during the day.
- Intoducing a distraction technique such as telling stories.
- Creating a mindful routine and involving a warm bath before bed.
Conclusion
Addressing sleep fear in children can prove to be a challenge for many parents. By being able to identify the root causes of the fear, parents can create an environment which will help support their child to feel safe and secure. It is important to provide strategies to ensure that your child’s sleep fear can be managed and ultimately eliminated.