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Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › Fighting Sleep

Fighting Sleep

A Look at Why Babies and Toddlers Fight Sleep

By Renee Roberson

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"It helps get the baby in the mindset to transition to sleep," Dr. Twomey says. "Go into the room where the baby sleeps. Do the same activity. Put the baby down slightly drowsy."

Dr. Chen points out that many infants become more alert and curious around 5 to 6 months of age, and they may start fighting sleep because they are too interested in what's going on around them. At this point, she often tells parents that the "cry it out" method may be worth trying, but it's best if both parents agree beforehand.

"It can be very stressful for families involved," Dr. Chen says. "Nine times out of ten it happens very naturally and doesn't take longer than a week."

Q. No matter what I do, my toddler always seems to fight sleep, both during naptimes and bedtime. What could be the cause of this?

Dr. Twomey addresses the fact that there is a whole other layer of things to consider when dealing with toddler sleep issues. There could be a physical issue disrupting his sleep, it could be caused by a battle of the wills or he could just be so curious that he'd rather stay awake than sleep.

"Everything around them is a new experience and they are very excited," Dr. Chen says. "They don't have the recognition that they should sleep because they are tired."

If your toddler is older, close to the age of 3, and fighting naptime, it could be that he is almost ready to give up the nap. Or he could be missing his window for a restful sleep and be getting overtired instead. Dr. Chen says that if your toddler is yawning and rubbing his eyes, he's probably missed the opportunity for a nap.

This could alo happen at night if the toddler's bedtime is later than it should be. According to Dr. Chen, toddlers often become hyperactive if they are overtired and have a hard time settling down. And while some parents may think it's a good idea to let their toddlers be physically active before bedtime, it could backfire.


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