waking

Last reviewed 01/2018

The newborn infant cannot sleep for more than a few hours before waking.

Preschool children are likely to wake during the night. The likelihood of a child waking is increased if they are excited or otherwise aroused. Studies of sleep in young children have revealed that 85% of 2 month old children wake during the night and about 67% of 9 month olds.

Nocturnal waking is estimated to present a clinical problem in 10-20% of preschool children. The prevalence of this problem decreases with age of the child and studies have revealed that about 20% of 1-2 year old children are affected. About 14% of 3 year old children wake up at least 3 nights per week.

There is a disparity between the proportion of children who wake up in the night and those who disturb their parents. Not all children wake up in the night need to disturb their parents in order to return to sleep.

Factors which are associated with night waking as a clinical problem are:

• high levels of arousal
• selective neurological immaturity
• breast feeding (3)
• separation anxiety
• parental over-responsiveness
• too much to drink before bedtime

Reference:

• Anders T. Home recorded sleep in 2- and 9 month old infants. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry 1978;17:421-32
• Richman N et al. Preschool to School. London: Academic Press
• Anders T. Neurophysiological studies of sleep in infants and children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 1982;23:75-83.