A large part of teaching your child "good" sleep habits is teaching him to fall asleep on his own. This is a skill that may last him a lifetime and keep everyone in the home more rested and less stressed. Part of good parenting may be protecting your own need for sleep, as sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, decreased immunity and worsening of postpartum depression. If circumstances lead you to seeking out a safe sleep aid for your child, the choices are plentiful and usually effective.
Definition
The National Institutes of Health report that sleep aids for infants and toddlers, as well as school-age children, encourage self-soothing at bedtime and throughout normal arousal times during the night. NIH defines sleep aids as "any object, including parts of their own body, that the child uses in his/her sleep environment to facilitate sleep without requiring parental assistance."
Considerations
Getting adequate sleep has many benefits for children of all ages and poor sleep habits have important consequences to consider. According to Reinforcement Unlimited, inadequate sleep for your child can cause a decrease in her performance at school, in sports or after-school activities, ability to concentrate and consolidate information and reaction time. Sleep deprivation may increase your child's irritability, mood and behavior problems, whining, risk of accidents and injuries and lapses of memory.
Medications
Reinforcement Unlimited reports on a 2003 survey where 671 pediatricians were asked about giving medications to their patients with "sleep problems." More than half of these physicians prescribed sleeping pills within the last six months in their practice. 75 percent of them recommended non-prescription aids such as the antihistamine diphenhydramine--trade name Benadryl--and nearly 25 percent suggested melatonin or herbs such as chamomile tea or valerian root. It is important to note that no medications have been approved by the FDA for use in children with sleep disturbances. Most experts do not recommend giving herbal remedies to babies or toddlers, because no safe pediatric doses have been established and toxicity can occur if children are given too much. The survey also measured 55 percent of doctors prescribed medications for "special needs" kids, with many given to provide "respite" for their caretakers and families. "If parents don't know, they could get into a situation where they are overdosing a kid," states Dr. Judith Owens, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Brown Medical School.
Natural Aids
Babycenter.com recommends these natural sleep aids for your baby or toddler: thumb-sucking--it's a "perfectly acceptable" way for your child to comfort himself and meet his inborn need to suck. Unlike a pacifier, it can't get lost in the crib or on the floor. Nightlight--some babies wake in the night and are disoriented if the room is too dark and they don't recognize anything. Flipping a small nightlight on and leaving it on can be reassuring to a child. Music is naturally soothing and distracting, as your baby concentrates on sound. Bedtime rituals are very important to good sleep habits. Above all else, consistent rituals and the hour of bedtime must be observed for these to work. Your rituals could include a warm bath, reading a story, singing a lullabye, rocking or a kiss, while using the same words for "goodnight." A safe, beloved toy can be used and the time honored, warm glass of milk. Milk contains tryptophan, which many consider a sleep ingredient. Do not put your child to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup, as this may promote tooth decay.
ADHD
ADHD is commonly diagnosed and treated with stimulant medication. When child is being tested for this "trait," their sleep patterns should be evaluated. Often, parents complain that sleep problems are due to ADHA, when actually, the symptoms of ADHD may be due to sleep deprivation, such as irritability, restlessness, anxiety and mood changes. It's possible that these stimulant drugs to treat ADHD may in fact, be the cause of their sleep deprivation. Discuss this with your pediatrician and perhaps try a few natural sleep aids, whether your child is a toddler or a teenager.
