NANA SAYS CHILDREN'S SLEEPING ISSUES ARE DIFFICULT

Do you ever want to ask an expert on how to get you child to sleep better? The perfect sleeping baby after 2 weeks exist! Often however, the sleep patterns change as the child grows. Some sleep through the night then start to wake up again at 4 months for example. Some babies need another feed during the night. Some babies just wake up and can not tell you why! Some strategies- let the baby cry it out and no one sleeps, cuddle the baby back to sleep, feed the baby or take the the baby to your bed. As babies age, wear them out before bedtime with play and top up with extra food. The toddler with fresh air may help with sleep. Quiet time before bed. The white noise helps with keeping other sounds away from the sleeping child.
 Some children like to crawl in the parents' bed during the middle of the night. For older children, pushing bed time back a little may mean the child is more tired. It is a trade off of having some private parent time. It is wonderful to have children sleeping so things can get done.
Of course certain stages and ages the dreams and nightmares can start. Being afraid of the dark and the nightly shadows that come with it! Night lights help even for older children.
Sleeping is so necessary for everyone. There is no one strategy that will work with every child. Some children just need to be near other people.
As the Nana, I have found on sleepovers the grandkiddies sleep better if there is another child with them. My oldest grandchild when sleeping over by herself would often come in my room during the night so I would decide at 2 in the morning to go to the guest room bed and stay with her for the rest of the night. Now it is not an issue. Perhaps the different house and noises concerned her. As other grandchildren started to sleep over, the same pattern emerged.
So being well fed and tired may help  your child to sleep better. Trying different approaches is the best remedy. Reassuring your child the home is safe and you are nearby. Sometimes just time and a changing child is the answer.
Any thoughts or comments are what you have tried to get your child to sleep? Parents need all the help and support they can obtain.