Key points about night waking problems
- there are many reasons why tamariki (children) wake up during the night
- some tamariki are unable to fall back to sleep without a special person, thing or activity after waking up
- night terrors are when a child wakes suddenly with a loud scream or cry and they often stare straight ahead and look terrified
- nightmares are frightening dreams that usually wake your child up completely
- tamariki with anxiety can lie in bed worrying about things
- tamariki with restless legs have an uncomfortable feeling in their legs when trying to fall asleep or during the night
This page is about sleep in primary school tamariki.
How 'sleep association' contributes to night waking problems
Some tamariki are unable to fall back to sleep without a special person, thing or activity after waking up. This is called 'sleep onset association disorder' and can stop tamariki getting to sleep too. Key features are:
- your child needs something (such as music, a certain toy) or someone (for example, Mum or Dad) to get to sleep at the start of the night and/or fall back to sleep overnight and
- if that something or someone is not there, they will not be able to get to sleep at the start of the night or fall back to sleep overnight
Find out how to manage sleep association.
How 'night terrors' contribute to night waking problems
These can be really scary for parents. Your child wakes suddenly with a loud scream or cry and when you go in to them, they are often staring straight ahead and look terrified. They affect at least 3 in 100 tamariki and are more common if tamariki are sick or overtired. Night terrors:
- usually happen before midnight
- are not remembered by your child in the morning (unlike nightmares) and
- happen when your child gets 'stuck' between deep (quiet) and light (active) sleep cycles - your child's body is awake but their mind is not, so they do not remember the event unless you are able to wake them up
Find out how to manage night terrors.
How nightmares contribute to night waking problems
These are frightening dreams that usually wake your child up completely. They are very common in tamariki especially if they are overtired or sick. Nightmares:
- usually happen after midnight which is different from night terrors
- can be remembered by your child usually as a frightening dream and
- happen when your child is in light sleep so that your child wakes up fully and wants you to comfort them
Find out how to manage nightmares.
How anxiety contributes to night waking problems
We do not really know how common anxiety is as a cause of sleep problems in school tamariki, but it is probably common. Tamariki with anxiety may:
- lie in bed worrying about things
- stay in their bed rather than getting in and out of bed all the time and
- be a 'worrier' in general about life
Find out how to manage anxiety as a cause of sleep problems.
How 'restless legs' contribute to night waking problems
Tamariki with restless legs have an uncomfortable feeling in their legs when trying to fall asleep or during the night. Tamariki with restless legs may:
- describe the uncomfortable feeling as a 'creepy/crawly' or 'pulling' feeling, or as 'growing pains'
- move around a lot in bed to try to stop the uncomfortable feeling
- walk or pace around at bedtime
- be unable to sit still for a long time and
- be tired or cranky the next day due to lack of sleep
Find out how to manage restless legs.
Online sleep programme
The Good Nights Programme is a New Zealand developed sleep programme. It was originally developed to support tamariki with autism-takiwātanga. But much of the content is relevant to all parents and whānau looking for the best way to support their child to improve their sleep. You can work through the modules in your own time.
Find out more about sleep and the best way to support your child to improve their sleep.
Module 1: Understanding your child's sleep
Module 2: Sleep scheduling
Module 3: Creating optimum conditions for sleep
Module 4: Teaching children healthy sleep habits
Module 5: Relaxation
Module 6: Promoting sleep-conducive behaviour
Module 7: Creating a sleep support plan
Visit the Good Nights Programme website to see all the modules
Acknowledgements
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand thank the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, for making this content available to parents and families.
© Copyright – Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2014. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this content may be reproduced by a process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
