This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Getting a good night's sleep is a challenge many parents face, but what's behind their child's refusal to sleep at night?
Published on July 17, 2019, sleep consultant Lucy Wolfe shed light on the common issue, explaining that children don't resist sleep because they don't like sleeping or are particularly bright for their age.
Instead, Lucy says that children are often over-tired, which triggers a chemical response in their body, making it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Lucy explains that this response is caused by cortisol and adrenaline, which have two main jobs: making it hard to fall asleep and making it hard to stay asleep.
She notes that over-tiredness can be represented by intense eye rubbing, big yawns, agitation, clenching fists, stretching limbs, or becoming hyper, clumsy, or highly entertaining.
Lucy advises parents to address their child's bedtime before these symptoms emerge, suggesting a plan that involves following her Nap Gap Dynamic and Magic Number Line.
The Nap Gap Dynamic helps ensure that sleep is addressed at the right time biologically, rather than relying solely on sleep cues. The Magic Number Line, used in conjunction with the Nap Gap Dynamic, helps establish a fight-free bedtime process.
Lucy's plan involves a structured bedtime routine, including dinner at 5-5:30 pm, final drinks/milk feeds at 6 pm, a bedtime routine at 6:30 pm, and aiming for the child to be asleep between 7-8 pm.
