Winning the Toddler Sleep Wars: Maggie Dent interviews Dr Fallon Cook
It’s 3am and you hear the sound of small feet approaching…
You expected some sleepless nights when your baby was little, but now that baby has strong legs that can stand up and walk. And negotiation skills that would rival any ASIO officer. Things just got real.
Ever heard of Sleep Onset Insomnia?
This occurs when a toddler or preschooler takes a really long time to fall asleep. They may feel frightened to fall asleep on their own, or they might not feel ready to sleep. Bedtime delay tactics are common - another song, another book, another sip of water - sound familiar? If it always takes longer than 25 minutes for your toddler or preschooler to fall asleep, then they may meet criteria for Sleep Onset Insomnia.
How about Sleep Maintenance Insomnia?
This is when a child wakes in the middle of the night for 1-4 hours, unable to resume sleeping.
Sometimes Sleep Onset Insomnia and Sleep Maintenance Insomnia occur at the same time and cause all sorts of difficulties for parents and children.
Sleep disorders can seriously impact child wellbeing and parent mental and physical health.
These aren’t occasional toddler sleep difficulties that self-resolve, they’re extraordinarily challenging sleep disorders and they usually require treatment from a specialist. They can stop your toddler or preschooler from growing properly, and they can damage your health and wellbeing.
The good news is that they can be treated. You can reclaim your sleep.
Listen to Dr Fallon on Maggie Dent’s Parental As Anything to learn about:
why these problems occur
practical steps you can try at home
when it’s time to get expert help
