Sleep: a blessing and a curse! Your little one’s naps give you a chance to rest and take care of other things. But when nighttime sleep is fragmented, it can push you to your limits. Many parents feel tired and overwhelmed when their child can’t settle into peaceful sleep—especially when they hear “lucky” parents talking about how well their child sleeps and “how long their naps are!”

Il vostro bambino ha problemi con il sonno?

Are you doing something wrong as a parent? Not at all. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of awareness—and a little patience, which never feels like enough when you’re caring for children of any age. The good news is that it’s possible to improve children’s sleep.

Here’s everything you need to know about children’s sleep, along with some tips for more peaceful rest for the whole family.

Children's sleep is not like that of adults, did you know?

People often get frustrated because children don’t sleep; however, what many parents expect is a child who sleeps exactly like an adult. Nothing could be further from the truth, because sleep is a complex process that evolves as a child grows.

Just think: in the first months of life, babies spend about 70–80% of their time sleeping. Newborns sleep around 15–20 hours a day, compared to 5–6 hours for older adults.

A group of Italian pediatricians also conducted an important study that revealed key details about little ones’ sleep:

• 72% of children between one month and three years need a parent present to fall asleep, and most of them also require physical contact.

• 86% of children between one month and three years sleep with their parents—an incredibly high figure that clearly shows how important a parent’s closeness is for a child.

• Finally, after age 5, very few children continue to sleep in mom and dad’s bed, because over time children’s sleep patterns regulate. This is good news, dear parents: sleepless nights are not endless!

In general, children’s sleep changes by age group. Let’s see how it evolves and, as a result, how you can respond.

Every age has its sleep

• 
  0-2 months: Children sleep a lot, mostly without regularity. To help them fall asleep, you can use gentle sounds or white noise, which promote relaxation.
  

• 2-4 months: You can start to bring some regularity to sleep. During this period, in fact, the foundations for future sleep are built.
  

• 4-6 months: During this period, it’s likely there will be more awakenings because sleep is changing. It’s normal, so don’t be alarmed. Start putting them to sleep more regularly in the prepared sleep environment.
  

• 6-8 months: The sleep rhythm should become more regular, and more hours should pass between one awakening and the next. This is a period full of changes and discoveries, from babbling to weaning, so frequent awakenings can happen (blame it on all the emotions). Always be ready to reassure your child.
  

• 8-10 months: The attachment phase begins. The best care? Lots of cuddles that help them feel safe and protected.
  

• 10-12 months: The separation period begins, which can disturb sleep. During these months, it’s important to help your child understand that even if you leave them with grandparents or at nursery, you will always come back.
  

• 12-16 months: In these months, children assert their personality. A phase of regression may occur. If you’ve already established a good sleep routine, be patient—everything should return to normal very soon.
  

• 16-20 months: It is the phase of the movement. Children are lively, eager to play, run, and explore, which can leave them very, very tired by the end of the day. Try to create a bedtime ritual that helps them relax.
  

• 20-24 months: As your child approaches age two, sleep should have become more regular, but at this stage little ones often express a strong desire for independence. However, to grow, they also need firmness from you. Firmness and understanding act as a guide for them: they may feel grown-up, but they are still small and can be full of insecurities.
  
  

Sleep, what are the “tips” to manage it better?

Every child is unique, and that uniqueness shows up in sleep, too. Still, there are three things that can generally support your child’s nighttime rest—and yours as well. Sleepless nights can really test parents who, juggling household chores, family, and work, risk reaching the end of the day completely exhausted. So what’s the solution?

1. Establish a good sleep routine