Sleep problems in infants are common. By six months, many babies have the ability to go through the night without a feed and to re-settle themselves after night waking. However, night waking still occurs in 36-45% of infants aged six months to one year to a degree that is considered problematic by parents

Sleep problems are one of the most common reasons for parents consulting child health professionals. This is understandable, given the impact of sleep deprivation on parents. Some of the problems experienced by parents from lack of sleep include:

• having trouble remembering things: being very tired can make it hard to think straight and you may have trouble concentrating

• lack of patience: it is hard to stay calm and in control when you are overtired
  

• getting run down: when you are very tired, you may get sick more often

• depression: being tired all the time can make some people feel very depressed; it can also make you feel helpless, angry, teary and alone.

How professionals see sleep problems

Researchers and professionals who work with parents and children have come to think of sleeping problems as any difficulties related to sleeping, including:

• difficulty falling or staying asleep
  

• falling asleep at inappropriate times
  

• excessive total sleep time
  

• abnormal behaviours associated with sleep.

For young children, the most common sleep problems are night waking and difficulties settling.

Severe night waking has been defined as waking that occurs five or more times a week over three months and that includes one of the following:

• waking three or more times a night
  

• staying awake for more than 20 minutes after waking

• going in to the parent’s or carer’s bed (when the parent does not wish it).

A settling problem is defined as taking more than 20 minutes to settle on five or more nights a week over at least two months.