When we think of the word insomnia, we think of adults who have trouble sleeping and have to take medications to get some shut eye. However, there are many parents who are fighting this battle with their toddler. Yes, even toddlers can have trouble sleeping too.

Insomnia is characterised by having trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep throughout the night. Toddler insomnia can be diagnosed (by a doctor) by having three or more episodes a week for a month or longer. There are many things that could be causing this and here we’ll discuss about the top reasons your toddler may be experiencing sleep troubles and some solutions that may help your little one get some rest.

Here are 5 possible reasons why your toddler has insomnia and what you should do about it:

1. Bad Dreams

Just because your little one is only two or three does not mean they are exempt from bad dreams. Everyone has a bad dream eventually and toddlers are no exception. So if your toddler is going to sleep just fine at bed time, but is waking up in the middle of night, it’s possible he or she may be having bad dreams. Your toddler might have trouble telling you this, but you may be able to tell if they are waking up crying and seem frightened.

There haven’t been many studies on children and nightmares but so far no one knows what exactly causes them or what young children are dreaming about. All you can do is comfort your child. For some children, after waking from a nightmare, the reassurance that you are still there and that it was all a dream, is enough to help them get back to sleep. However, some children have more serious cases and are known to have what is called night terrors. This is a very bad dream that can leave an emotional impact on your child and their sleep cycle. If you are concerned your little one is having night terrors, you should discuss this with your pediatrician.

2. Diet

Children love sweets and we all know that this isn’t good for them. Parents often limit sweets to make sure their child doesn’t get too hyper. It’s obvious a child should not have these foods before bed, but did you know that many other foods could be the culprit as well? Sometimes, even children who aren’t allowed sweets have problems sleeping.

Many parents don’t even know that it can be other foods their child is eating on a daily basis that can disturb their child’s natural sleep rhythm. Processed foods, foods high in carbohydrates, and even some foods with dyes or hormones in them can all have an impact on your child’s sleep habits.

A child’s body is so small and therefore very sensitive to everything they eat. Toddlers are very finicky eaters at times, so it is possible that what they are eating may have something to do with their sleep troubles. If you suspect your child may be experiencing insomnia due to their eating habits, you should speak with their pediatrician. Together, you may be able to cut some things out of their diet and narrow it down to what is causing your toddler insomnia.

3. No Routine

Life gets hectic and demanding and with a two year old in the house, things can get even crazier. Toddlers are notorious for throwing tantrums and rebelling against routines and bedtimes. Sometimes, this is inevitable, but you must keep a routine. This lets your toddler know that there are boundaries and rules. If you are just putting your child in their bed, turning the light off, saying goodnight, and wondering why they aren’t going to sleep, well this is why.

A toddler has to be eased into a situation. Maybe you should develop a bedtime routine. Some parents have bath time and then a small snack (like crackers and milk) then read a book with their child, all the while telling them that it’s almost bedtime.

They might still fight you, but they won’t feel so blind sighted when it’s actually time to lie down. Also, if your toddler takes a nap during the day, don’t allow it to be too late. If their bedtime is at 8 or 9, then make sure they do not have a nap later than 1 or 2. If your child won’t take a nap, then keep them up with activities and let them go to bed at 7 instead. There are always different things you can do when it comes to a routine.

4. They are afraid

If your child has their own room, then they may just be scared. This is the age when children start to become afraid of the dark. So give them a night light and a teddy or a blankie, or whatever you think may help. Remember, you know your child best. You know what they like and what they don’t, so this may take some trial and errors but don’t get discouraged and above all, do not give in. Many parents just give in and let their toddler run around until they drop. If you allow this to happen once, your toddler will continue to expect this. Consistency is the key.

5. They may need an internal clock “reset”

There are a lot of toddlers that are not in the first four categories and they may need help from their doctor. There is an internal rhythm in our bodies called the circadian rhythm. This regulates our sleep and wake cycle. The hormone or chemical that regulates our circadian rhythm is called melatonin. This is naturally in our bodies and more often than not, pediatricians will recommend this on a short term basis, for children with trouble falling asleep to “reset” their sleep cycle. It is given in a small dose and almost always works. NOTE: Please speak with your child’s pediatrician before ever giving them any drug or supplement.

If any of these reasons for toddler insomnia does not describe your child or if you have tried the recommended actions and they didn’t work, this might be the best time to ask help from your pediatrician.

References:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/childrens-hospital/health-info/diseases-conditions/hic-Insomnia
http://childrensmd.org/browse-by-age-group/toddler-pre-school/kids-sleep-melatonin/