The No Cry Nap Solution (37 page)

more days up to the actual time change. If you have appointments

or older children to pick up from school and sports activities, you

can’t actually change your clock. But, since babies and young chil-

dren can’t tell time, you can simply write down the bedtimes for

the week in advance and just begin your bedtime routine at the

adjusted time each night.

Could It Be a Sleep Disorder?

When to Call a Doctor

I have tried every tip in the book, but my child

still won’t nap, even though it is clear she

needs to! Are we doing something wrong,

or could our child have a sleep disorder?

It is possible that a sleep disorder is at the root of your problem,

and there are ways to make that determination. Before we dis-

cuss the symptoms of sleep disorders, contemplate the answers to

these questions:

• Have you created and followed a clear, specifi c nap plan?

• Have you considered the exact problems and accurately tar-

geted your solutions?

• Do you feel that you’ve been consistent following the plan

you’ve created?

If you answered “yes” to all of the above, and despite all this

your child continues to have sleep-related problems for both nap-

time and bedtime, it is possible that there is an underlying sleep

disorder or medical reason that your child isn’t sleeping well.

About 10 percent of children have a true sleep disorder, and their

sleep problems cannot be solved without it being identifi ed and

treated. However, when a sleep disorder is correctly identifi ed and

treated, children can get the sleep they need.

233

234 Solving Napping Problems

Signs That Your Child May Have a

Sleep Disorder

The following is a list of symptoms that are associated with the

more common sleep disorders. These might also indicate a heath

problem, such as asthma, allergies, or refl ux; plus, these conditions

can create or exacerbate sleep problems. A review of these indica-

tors can help you decide if you should seek medical advice about

your child’s sleep. It is possible that these symptoms will show up

during nighttime sleep and not during short daytime naps but

that the quality and quantity of naps may be negatively affected.

Determine if any of these apply to your child:

• Snores loudly or snores almost every night

• Is a very restless, noisy sleeper

• Often breathes through the mouth during sleep

• Chokes, snorts, gasps, wheezes, or holds his breath in his

sleep

• Has a persistent night cough

• Frequently has trouble falling asleep even when tired

• Wakes up every hour or two during the night

• Appears to be tired or lethargic even after a good night’s

sleep

• Sweats heavily during sleep

• Has frequent and intense night terrors or nightmares

• Sleeps in strange or contorted positions

• Frequently wakes up with a headache, heartburn, or sore

throat

• Has a nasal sound to his voice and regularly breathes

through his mouth

• Is diffi cult to awaken even after a full night’s sleep or

remains groggy for a long time after waking up

• Sometimes experiences muscle weakness when highly emo-

tional (during laughter or crying)

Could It Be a Sleep Disorder?
235

• Is often inattentive, irritable, depressed, or hyperactive dur-

ing the day

• Falls asleep often in front of the TV, at playdates, or at

school

• Doesn’t improve no matter what solutions you try, and your

child’s sleep problems have become almost unbearable for

you to handle

A common tip shared by parents is that a dose of allergy medi-

cine, cold medicine, or antihistamines can help a child sleep

better. According to scientifi c studies, these medications are

no more effective in aiding sleep than a placebo. Worse, giv-

ing a child unnecessary medication can cause dangerous side

effects that are not worth the risk.

Sleep experts agree that medication should be a last resort

and a rarely used solution. “Drugs don’t get to the root of the

problem, the reason why the child isn’t sleeping,” says Ray-

mond Sturner, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Johns

Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Solutions for Children with Sleep Disorders

If you suspect that your child may have a sleep disorder, it is best

not to attempt to diagnose the problem yourself. There are a num-

ber of places where you can fi nd help determining if your child has

a sleep disorder. These professionals can also assist you in mapping

out a treatment plan. Depending on your child’s issues, your fam-

ily’s approach to health care, and the results you have along the

way, it may take visits to more than one of these professionals to

236 Solving Napping Problems

Daniel, one month old, on Daddy Gary

settle on the best answer. But don’t give up. This is an important

issue to solve for the sake of your child’s health and well-being.

• Your general health provider.
The pediatrician or health

care provider who handles your child’s regular checkups may be

able to help you determine if a sleep disorder exists, what treat-

ment to use, and if your child should see a specialist.

• A sleep disorders center.
Specialized sleep centers are set

up with the equipment necessary to perform diagnostic tests and

sleep studies. Look for a center that specializes in pediatric sleep

disorders if possible. You can acquire information about sleep cen-

ters from your local hospital or your health care provider.

• Alternative medicine.
If alternative medicine options suit

your family’s approach to health care, many are able to effectively

treat sleep problems. Some of the choices are as follows:

—
Holistic medicine and homeopathy
will take into account

your child’s temperament, eating habits, prior illnesses,

and family health history to determine which remedy and

lifestyle changes would most improve your child’s sleep situ-

Could It Be a Sleep Disorder?
237

ation. Homeopathic remedies are numerous and are made

from minerals, plants, and animals.

—
Naturopathy
is an integration of natural medicine with

medical diagnostic science.

—
Chiropractic care
focuses on treating health problems by

making adjustments to the bony framework of the skeleton,

particularly the spine. Chiropractic doctors can diagnose

sleep disorders and deliver treatments for a better night’s

sleep.

—
Acupuncture
is a natural therapy that is used to heal ill-

ness and improve well-being. Acupuncture can be useful for

the treatment of some sleep disorders.

—
Craniosacral therapy (CST), craniopathy, and cranial

osteopathy
are holistic therapies that focus on the skull

and the membranes and fl uids that surround the brain and

spinal cord. You may want to talk with your health care

provider about looking into this option and locate a doctor

who specializes in using this method for children.

•
Pediatric psychologists and family therapists.
Mental health

professionals can often help to diagnose sleep problems and recom-

mend treatment.

Choosing the Right Answer

Every family approaches health care in its own unique way. What-

ever way you choose to handle your child’s sleep problems, make

sure that you take the time to investigate your choice thoroughly.

When you select a method of care, give it enough time to work

before evaluating your results. Sleep disorders are rarely corrected

in one day, or even one month. These take time, care, and patience

to remedy, but you may be providing your child a lifelong benefi t

by taking the necessary time to solve his sleep problems.

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Index

Advice, bad
, 57

smoking and,
57, 76

Age and naptime needs,
7, 8

suck-to-sleep association,

Allergies and asthma
, 92

56–57, 76, 155, 157

Arsenic hour,
17

Attention defi city hyperactivity

Caffeine in breast milk
, 77

disorder (ADHD)
, 6

Car naps
, 97–98, 198–208

Attention span,
5–6

Car seats
, 199–200

Catnaps, shor
t, 10–11.
See also

Back sleeping

One-cycle sleep syndrome

baby hammocks
, 188

(OCSS)

bed considerations,
190

Chart, sleep
, 7, 8

crib alternative for naps,

Circadian rhythm
, 19

186–88

Colic care
, 209–13

at day care
, 191

Comfort checks
, 71

infant sleep-positioning

Cortisol
, 4

systems
, 186

Co-sleeping,
52–53

monitoring baby’s health
, 189

Cradles and swings
, 51, 53,

as safest way
, 185

55

side sleeping,
190

Crib modifi cations,
140–43

swaddling and
, 188–89

Cribs, cozy,
71

turning him over
, 189

Crib-vibrating device
, 180–81,

warming up surface,
189

204

Beds, better
, 71, 140–43

Crisalli, Linda
, 114

Bedtime routine,
5, 94

Cycle-blender naps
, 69–71

Biological clock
, 19, 85–86, 94,

225

Daily schedule log,
23, 25, 26

Bottles, weaning from
, 220–21

Darkness cues
, 47

Brain developmen
t, 5

Day care

Breastfeeding.
See also
Naptime

back sleeping at
, 191

nursling

snoozing
, 214–16

caffeine in breast milk
, 77

Daylight, power of
, 46

239

240

Index

Daylight saving time
, 231–32

holding sleeping babies,

Dement, Dr. William C.
, 7, 138

136–37

Depression, postpartum
, 58,