Four out of five children have sleep disorders until the age of 6. Often the hardest part for parents is understanding why. We give you tips for getting back to sleep.
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Lung infections in children are on the rise at the end of November, according to SOS Médecins. Fever, cough, stuffy nose, all these factors certainly have an impact on your child’s sleep but also on yours. There are around 90 factors that can lead to sleep disorders. It could be a virus, teething, hunger, anxiety or overstimulation.
The hardest part for parents is often understanding why the child has trouble falling asleep or wakes up at night. And when it comes to rest, you have to be careful, because lack of sleep can lead to growth problems or learning delays, and have a direct impact on the health of the child but also on that of the parents.
Every tired and deprived parent has already heard this kind of advice: “Let him cry, it will hurt his lungs”, “you hold him too much”, “stop giving him a bottle at night, he can sense your stress” or “don’t worry, it will pass eventually”. So, of course, everything works, but with full nights, it must be said, it’s still a little better. It is already essential to establish a bedtime ritual and a safety framework: give a hug, read a story, put on soft music, sing a lullaby, turn on a small light… All these methods are good for soothing the child but also to share a calm and pleasant moment together.
Important sleep times to respect
Then, you should know that 76% of children under 3 years old are sleep deprived, this is the result of a study by the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance. For example, an infant needs to sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day. A child under 2 years old needs 11 to 14 hours of sleep with regular bedtimes and waking up times. You must therefore respect these sleep times as much as possible, if you wake your child at 7 a.m. for example, because you have to go to work, then put them to bed earlier in the evening. If he wakes up at night, keep in mind that the sleep train passes every 30 minutes for a baby so don’t be surprised if your little one doesn’t go back to sleep immediately. In fact, parents are often poorly informed about sleep mechanics.
Don’t be alone, don’t hesitate to get help! First by your pediatrician because there may also be pathological factors, or by child psychiatrists, by the Maternal and child protection (PMI) or by consulting the site 1000premiersjours.fr set up by the government. There are also many guides that can help you like My baby’s great sleep guide (Marabout 2023 editions). You can also contact a dietitian or pediatric nutritionist; consultations are, for example, possible on the madamemiam.fr platform.
The sleeping fairies
There is a new phenomenon that has been growing for several years: sleep fairies. There is no magic, no miracle. Behind this sweet name of sleep fairy, hide professionals, for example, educational psychologists. They will analyze your daily life and especially that of your child thanks to an appointment but also a questionnaire with around a hundred questions. Then, they will offer you a personalized sleep plan and depending on the package you choose, they will support you and give you appropriate advice. They will be present seven days a week by message from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
It costs around 60 euros for a one-hour interview. For two to three weeks of follow-up, count between 300 and 750 euros depending on the age of the child and 90 euros on average for a one-off consultation. There are several platforms like Fée dodo, the fairy of sleep, fairy of sweet dreams. The parents’ testimonies are astonishing and unanimous. They all found a balance and peaceful nights.