CloudBee "Sleep Training" Toy

Did you know that one in four children has some kind of sleep problem?
The fact that many children are sleep-deprived means that adults are even less rested and more tired. Children learn their lifestyle habits from adults, so it's important for adults to help them establish good sleep habits.

My name is Kim West, better known in America as "Sleep Lady."

I am a mother of two children myself and have been working as a children's sleep therapist for about 19 years. While each child has different concerns, I would like to introduce five common issues that I see. Many families are experiencing the same concerns as you.
Don't try to think too much about it alone, let's solve it together.

#1 My kids wake up early

If adults can wake up early together with their children, they won't feel too stressed, but if their children wake up earlier than their own, adults will have to force themselves to wake up at the same time, which can cause fatigue and stress. There are several common reasons why children wake up early, and by identifying these causes, it can be possible to solve the problem.

Reason 1: Going to bed late

It may not seem logical, but going to bed later can cause your child to wake up earlier. Children under the age of 7 need more sleep, so the later they go to bed, the earlier they tend to wake up. Children up to the age of 9 need at least 10-11 hours of sleep. Calculate your bedtime by counting backwards from your wake-up time. If your 5-year-old needs 11 hours of sleep and wakes up at 7, you'll need to get them to bed by 8.

Reason 2: Staying awake for too long

If the gap between an afternoon nap and evening bedtime is too long, your child may become tired, which can lead to poor sleep. Ideally, there should be around four hours between naptime and evening bedtime.

Reason 3: Not taking enough naps

A short nap or no nap at all can lead to poor nighttime sleep. While it may sound counterintuitive, eliminating naptime will not result in a lot of sleep at night. On average, children stop napping around the age of 3.5 to 4 years old. Until then, make sure your child has plenty of naptime.

Reason 4: You're already sleepy when you go to bed

If you rock your child to sleep, hold them, or sleep next to them until they fall asleep, you may be doing too many things and hindering your child's ability to fall asleep on their own. If your child wakes up on their own at 5am, they will not be able to fall asleep on their own even if they try again. Getting your child ready for bed before they get sleepy and practicing going to sleep now will help them fall asleep on their own.

Cause 5. Sleep apnea syndrome

Sleep apnea caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause sleep problems. Signs of sleep apnea include constant movement during sleep, snoring, loud breathing, and sweating during sleep.
If you're concerned that your child may have sleep apnea,
It is important to see a pediatrician immediately.

#2 Not taking naps. If I do take a nap, I wake up immediately.

Children feel stressed when they can't take a nap properly. As a result, nap times change frequently, and adults feel stressed when trying to get their children to sleep. Here are some tips for making naps successful.

・Don't overlook signs of sleepiness

If your baby starts rubbing his eyes, yawning, or losing interest in toys,
This is a sign of sleepiness. If your child only takes one nap a day, such as a toddler or preschooler,
Your child will likely feel sleepy after lunch or six hours after waking up in the morning. Prepare for a nap when your child is most likely to fall asleep.

- Form a routine before going to sleep

For example, by consistently performing the habits you have before falling asleep, such as "changing a diaper, reading a book, skin-to-skin contact, and going to bed awake," your brain and body will learn the habit of sleeping.

Create a room environment suitable for sleep

It is also important to block out outside noise by keeping the room dark, at a comfortable temperature, and playing soothing sounds.

- Taking a nap at home

Although we all have busy days, one trick is to adjust your schedule so that your child can take a nap in the safe environment of your own home.

・Learn the act of "waking up"

If your baby continues to refuse to sleep, try leaving them alone in the room for just one minute and then appearing to "wake them up" in a dramatic way. This way, they'll realize that they're "waking up" because it's time, rather than being "woke up" because they're fussy. The next time they take a nap, don't miss any signs of sleepiness and put them to sleep, then try waking them up in the same way when the time comes. Another trick is to always get into the habit of "waking up" in the same way.

・Go to bed early

Ideally, babies should be in bed by 7pm.
It may seem fast, but it's true!

・First, habits, second, habits

It's important to have a schedule and stick to it, doing the same things at the same time and then going to bed.
There is little need to change the schedule until the age of three.
Bath, brush teeth, change clothes, read aloud, and then go to bed. This helps create a routine for falling asleep.

#4 Lack of consistency

The key to sleep training is consistency. If your sleep training is inconsistent and always follows a different routine, time, or atmosphere, it will be stressful and confusing for your child, and they will not get much sleep.
The most important thing for sleep training to be successful is to be more consistent than you've ever been for yourself. The key to success is to get other adults involved to discuss your child's sleep training, decide how it will be done, and be consistent in the same way.

#5 Continuing the co-sleeping habit

Even if you decide to sleep train your child, make a plan, and try to be consistent, you may find yourself co-sleeping with your child because they sleep better when you do so. This is something that often happens even if you think, "Today is the day I'm going to start sleep training!" If you sleep with your child, please be aware of the following:

- Choose a slightly firm mattress for your baby's safety in the crib. Adult mattresses and futons can be too soft and cause a child's body to sink in. For safety, make sure there are no sheets around that can get tangled when the baby rolls over, or pillows or cushions that can cover the baby's face.

- Heavy blankets and fluffy comforters can be dangerous if they cover the face or body of a sleeping child and they are unable to remove them on their own, so choose a lighter blanket or remove the comforter altogether.

・If your baby sleeps in a bed, make sure there are no gaps between the bed and the wall or between the mattresses that the baby could get stuck in. If there are any gaps, make sure to attach the mattress tightly to the wall or furniture so that it does not move and there is no danger.

- Adults should wear plenty of clothing so they can sleep without needing many bedding.
When it's cold in the middle of the night, it's easy to be tempted to cover yourself with a blanket, but it can be very dangerous to cover your baby with a blanket as well.

Babies sleep best and most comfortably next to their mother. Even though mothers are often light sleepers, it is important to pay as much attention as possible to your baby and, if necessary, feed them during the night.

If you sleep in the same room as your baby, place the crib next to the adult bed or futon and work on sleep training. Little by little, your baby will be able to sleep on his or her own.

Create a sleep training plan for your child and try sleep training to help both you and your child sleep better.
There are many books and toys available to help with sleep training, so make use of them.