Getting little ones to go to sleep and stay asleep is a struggle most caregivers know all too well, and it is exhausting for everyone involved.

During infancy, there is an expectation that your new addition will frequently wake up through the evening and nap during the day. As infants transition into the toddler years, naps start to dwindle, and longer night-time stretches of sleep become the norm, or so we would hope.

As physical and emotional development progresses, it is common for children to start to fight sleep, and their normal bedtime routine may rapidly change.

Regardless of whether you have a brand-new bundle or a two-year-old tornado, quality sleep is essential for the whole household.   

Infant sleep struggles

After spending nine months being directly connected to mum, it makes sense that babies love the warmth and connection of being held as they drift in an out of newborn slumber.

Waking regularly to feed is one of the completely natural needs of young babies. This frequency will vary from one baby to another and is an additional fourth-trimester adjustment for the parents.

Babies will often prefer to be upright to reduce pressure on the stomach and may like to have something to suck on, such as a pacifier. Providing physical touch is also beneficial to reducing infant stress, and gentle tummy rubs or a warm bath can help in soothing discomfort.

Tummy discomfort isn’t limited to infants; herbal support is another gentle way to offer relief to slightly older children. Kiwiherb Organic Kid’s Calm contains Chamomile to settle the nervous system and soothe an overwhelmed and distressed child. This blend also eases upset tummies. This is suitable for two years of age and above.

Developing little minds

As children move into the toddler years, a want for independence and decision-making becomes more important. This can result in boundaries being tested and firmly expressed opinions from your little ones. 

The skill set that your child has learned from birth to now is staggering, and each development along the way influences their sleep and behaviour in some form.

With this growth comes new sleep challenges, like nightmares and waking to use the toilet, where sleep has been disrupted and needs to be re-established.

Keeping the environment calm, dark, and quiet is essential in keeping that sleepy daze of being ‘half awake’ to help settle your child back to sleep.

Organic Kid’s Calm with Chamomile helps to encourage the return to sleep and eases restlessness.

It is also important to consider the impact of social developments and environmental change. Starting daycare or kindergarten is a big social leap for young children. This involves schedule changes and significant developmental processes like sharing or taking some form of responsibility for themselves and their belongings.

The increased daily activity can stimulate emotional overwhelm or re-introduction of the afternoon nap, throwing out the evening sleep schedule. If your child has a specific health condition or processing needs, this will also influence their sleep patterns.

Similarly, a parent returning to the workforce or a new addition to the family can rock a toddler’s world. The separation anxiety from being away from home or from no longer being the only child is a significant emotion to process and can directly impact sleep regression.

The Chamomile in Organic Kid’s Calm would work beautifully in this situation to ease nervous tension. This formula is also suitable for daytime and night-time use. 

Rolling with routine

Everyone has some form of routine that is reinforced the majority of the time. Whether this is strictly followed or feels very fluid, we all have general sleep cues.  

Consistently having the same ‘wind down’ time can help to prompt sleepiness in children. This can be as simple as having the television turned off, getting into pyjamas and brushing teeth, and then having a bedtime story.

Even if your little one is fighting sleep, they will still understand the patterns you have developed and will know the sleep cues.

If naps have recently been dropped, you might find yourself aiming for an earlier dinner and bedtime for your child than usual to avoid the ‘late nap’ at all possible costs and to allow your child to still get enough sleep. Organic Kid’s Calm can be helpful in this situation and is particularly useful when you reach the ‘over tired’ stage.

It can take a whole bucket load of patience at times, but consistency is key, even if it doesn’t feel that way all the time.

Like most things, sleepless nights aren’t destined to last forever - although it can feel that way at the time. Supporting your child with gentle herbs, routine, and regulated energy output can help everyone relax when it comes to night time.