It all starts before bed. We have a queen-sized mattress with a sidecar twin, yet our 3-year-old, Leo, insists on sleeping with us. After nursing him to sleep, I slip away to spend some time with my partner. But the moment we settle in, Leo stirs, letting out that familiar sleep-cry that could either fade or escalate into full-blown wails. I reach over to tuck him back in, pat him gently, and he quiets for a moment.
But soon enough, the crying resumes. It’s almost midnight, and this little one needs to get to sleep; he was up until 9 p.m. last night. I wait, but the cries intensify. I stroke his back, hoping he’ll drift back into a restless dream. I can already tell this night is going to be long.
You see, it’s not just infants who struggle with sleep; toddlers and preschoolers do too.
By 6 a.m., Leo is up and demanding his morning milk. While I typically only nurse him at bedtime, desperation leads me to compromise. I groggily pull down my tank top, and he latches on like a piranha. After a few minutes, just when I start to drift off, he demands “the other milk.” Fine, kid. Whatever works.
I roll him over and repeat the process. Eventually, Leo decides it’s morning and announces, “I awake!” before bounding into the living room. I can only hope he hasn’t caused too much chaos while I stumble out to check on him.
According to Parents, 1- to 2-year-olds should sleep for 11 to 14 hours, including two naps. Meanwhile, children aged 3 to 5 need 10 to 13 hours, usually transitioning to one nap by age 5. However, Leo gave up his nap at 2, and now the idea of a nap is a distant memory.
Parents recommend establishing routines, keeping kids in bed at night, and providing comfort items to ease nighttime fears. Parenting expert Sarah Ockwell-Smith suggests that toddlers might wake at night due to a need for more autonomy. Changes such as a new sibling, starting preschool, or even dietary shifts can affect their sleep patterns. Potty training, excessive sleep, or an early bedtime could also contribute to their wakefulness.
Unfortunately, none of these reasons seem to apply to Leo’s sleep troubles. Thanks for nothing, HuffPost.
I’m certainly not alone in this struggle. Fellow writer Jenna Mills shares that her 3-year-old also has sleep challenges. “He’s impossible to put on a schedule,” she says. After battling for months, she finally threw in the towel. Now, he’s a night owl, sleeping all day and wanting to be awake when the rest of the world is not. I can relate to her woes.
As the experts at Parents advise, Leo should still be napping daily; however, we discovered that if he does, he won’t fall asleep until 1 a.m. Sometimes, he accidentally dozes off in his car seat, and we can only hope he doesn’t nap too long, or it’ll throw our entire family’s sleep schedules into chaos.
A sleep expert at Alberta Children’s Hospital states that nearly 40% of children will experience some form of sleep issue by age 18, with “sleep problems” defined as anything affecting sleep that impacts the child or family. That sounds about right. I suppose I should be grateful my kids are getting their sleep issues out of the way early.
We faced similar challenges with my 7-year-old. Thankfully, he now sleeps soundly through the night, almost every night. I hold on to the hope that my other children will eventually follow suit—one day, and what a glorious day that will be.
If you’re a parent of a child who struggles with sleep, know that you’re not alone. We’re in this together.
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Summary
This article highlights the challenges parents face with toddler and preschooler sleep issues, emphasizing that it’s not just infants who struggle with sleep. It discusses personal experiences and expert insights into common sleep patterns for young children, offering solidarity to fellow parents dealing with similar challenges.