Bedtime battles? Put childhood bedtime problems to rest

You're past middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, but a good night's sleep is still elusive. Maybe bedtime has turned into a battle of wills, or you're struggling to get your child to stay in his or her bed all night. Worse yet, these bedtime battles may be leaving your child tired and cranky during the day. Consider these simple strategies to put the most common bedtime problems to rest — starting tonight!

The problem: Your child doesn't want to go to bed.

The scenario: It's bedtime, but your child fusses about going to sleep because he or she doesn't want to miss anything.

The solution: If your child can hear talking, laughing, or sounds from the computer or TV, it's easy to see how he or she would feel left out. To ease the transition to bedtime, keep things quiet during the last hour before bedtime. Put away noisy games and toys. Turn off the TV, computer and video games. Dim the lights. Limit the entire family to quiet activities, such as reading books or doing puzzles. Sleep may be more appealing if everyone slows down before bedtime.

The problem: Your child won't stay in his or her bed.

The scenario: You put your child to bed, only to find him or her trailing you down the hall.

The solution: Don't let bedtime become a power struggle. When your child's bedtime routine is complete and he or she is comfortable, remind your child that there's no reason to get out of bed. If your child gets up, promptly return him or her to bed — repeatedly, if necessary. You may have to shut the door or put up a gate or barrier. If your child tends to wander around the house after you've gone to bed, you might use a bell or alarm on the door.

The problem: Your child wakes up during the night.

The scenario: Your child wakes up during the night and won't fall asleep again without your help.

The solution: If your child wakes up during the night, give him or her a few minutes to settle down. If time alone doesn't do the trick, go to your child's room and offer calm reassurance. Then tell your child that it's time to sleep and leave the room. Wait longer each night to go to your child's side, until eventually your child falls back to sleep without your help.

As an alternative, you might reassure your child and then doze in a chair or on a cot in your child's room until he or she falls asleep. Each night, move the chair or cot closer to the door — until finally you're out of the room.

If your child is keyed up when he or she wakes in the middle of the night, you might offer a flashlight and a book or other quiet items. Keep the items close to your child's bed. Encourage your child to use the items until he or she is ready to fall asleep again.