Night awakenings in young children are usually quite common and common. Although it is a real challenge for many parents, these nighttime awakenings must occur due to because they are part of the natural process when it comes to children's development.
In the next article we are going to talk to you about the reasons why young children wake up at night and what parents should do about it.
Sleep in childhood
When it comes to understanding why young children wake up at night, we must begin by investigating how sleep works at this stage of life. Children's sleep cycles are different from those of adults, with much shorter phases and with quite significant changes compared to that of adults.
Adult sleep cycles will fluctuate between 90 and 120 minutes, with phases that will include deep sleep and light sleep. On the other hand, in the case of young children, sleep cycles are much shorter, about 50 to 60 minutes. During these cycles, it is common for children to continually go through phases of light and deep sleep, resulting in short awakenings during the transitions between these phases.
Because young children are not yet able to fall asleep on their own, these awakenings They can be frequent and prolonged. By the time they wake up, children may feel somewhat disoriented and seek the safety of their parents.
Physical reasons for nighttime awakenings in young children
There are several physical reasons why a small child may wake up at night:
- Toddlers have smaller stomachs than adults, so they may wake up hungry or thirsty. This usually happens especially in the case of babies or newborns.
- Teething It is a common process that occurs during the first years of life, being quite painful for young children. The pain that teething will cause can cause them to wake up at night.
- Young children are often continually exposed to certain diseases such as colds or ear infections. The physical discomfort caused by this type of condition can cause them to have the aforementioned nocturnal awakenings.
- If there are certain changes in the young child's routine, such as a change of address or taking some type of trip, it can affect sleep and lead to to wake up at night.
Emotional reasons for nighttime awakenings in young children
Waking up at night in young children can also be related to certain reasons. emotional and psychological:
- Young children can suffer some separation anxiety, especially from 8 or 12 months of age. This anxiety they suffer can cause children to wake up at night and seek the warmth of their parents.
- Although nightmares and night terrors They are two totally different things, they can be the reason for nighttime awakenings. Nightmares are vivid, very frightening dreams that cause children to wake up, while night terrors are episodes of intense agitation that occur during deep sleep and can cause them to wake up in the night.
- Changes in development They can also cause young children to wake up during the night. This can occur when children are learning to walk.
What parents should do about nighttime awakenings
When it comes to addressing the problem in the best possible way, it is important that parents are able to understand why this event occurs. Once the reason why the child constantly wakes up at night is identified, it is easier provide a solution to this problem. Don't miss any details and take good note of a series of recommendations or tips, which will help you much better to handle this situation:
- The routines They are really important when it comes to solving this problem. Thanks to routines, children feel much safer. That is why parents should establish a schedule regarding bedtime and follow a series of routines that help children relax before going to bed.
- The environment in which the child will sleep should be as comfortable and safe as possible. The light in the room should be dim, there should be no noise and have a temperature that is quite pleasant. All of this will help the little one sleep much better.
- When a child wakes up at night, they will need the security that their parents offer. It is important therefore providing security to the little one so that he does not have problems at bedtime.
- Many parents tend to become extremely stressed when they see their young child constantly waking up at night. However, although it may be complicated, It is essential to relax and stay calm. Young children are capable of perceiving parents' nerves and stress, something that will make it difficult for them to sleep peacefully.
- In the event that nocturnal awakenings continue over time and end up significantly affecting the well-being of the child or the family, it is advisable to consult to a professional who knows how to give guidelines to reverse such a problem.
In short, waking up at night in young children is normal and part of the natural process. of growth and development. Although they represent a real challenge for many parents, it is essential to understand the reasons for these awakenings and follow the necessary guidelines so that the child can sleep in an optimal and adequate way and achieve a certain well-being in the family.