3-5 years sleep tips

Your pre-schooler will need between 10-12 hours of sleep at night – like adults, there’s a wide range of ‘normal’.

• She will most likely give up napping during the day at this time.
• Her bedtime will probably become later as she needs less sleep overnight
• She may still wake during the night and want you to comfort her.
• Sleep problems, such as nightmares and sleepwalking, are common at this age.
• Your pre-schooler may find it more difficult to settle to sleep – especially after a big day at pre-school - and may develop a range of delaying tactics at bedtime.
• If you have been sharing a bed up until this time, you may find that your pre-schooler is ready to move into her own bed and her own room.

Night waking

Night waking is still common at this age. While some children will be able to resettle themselves, others will still need your help to resettle. As she grows older, she won’t feel the need to be so physically close to you, so her regular visits to your bed in the dead of night should gradually lessen.

If your child needs help to go back to sleep you may need to change some of the 'going to sleep' routines. Make sure that you settle her in her own bed when she first goes to sleep, otherwise she may be disoriented when she wakes during the night.

Common Sense Advice. Share your experiences, tips and advice on the Kidspot Forum.

This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot. Sources include SA Government’s Parenting and Child Health and ABC Parenting