What are baby and toddler sleep problems?

Baby and toddler sleep problems are difficulties with sleep that affect your child’s wellbeing or make your family life difficult.

Common baby and toddler sleep problems include:

  • a lot of difficulty settling for sleep
  • not sleeping through the night
  • waking up a lot through the night.

There’s a lot of variation in the way that babies and toddlers sleep and settle. Also, unsettled sleep is often part of typical development. But if you’re concerned about the way your baby or toddler sleeps and settles, it’s always good to get professional help.

Why it’s good to get professional help for baby or toddler sleep problems

Your baby’s or toddler’s sleep problems will be much easier to manage with the support of a trusted child health professional.

Professional help is tailored to your child’s needs and your needs too. It focuses on your child’s current sleep patterns and can help you develop a personalised plan or sleep strategies to suit your situation.

This can help your child get the sleep they need to grow, develop, learn and stay healthy.

And if your child gets more sleep, you’ll probably get more sleep too. More sleep is good for your health and wellbeing. And when you’re physically, emotionally and mentally well, your child is more likely to grow, develop and thrive.

Sleep professionals: who they are and how they can help

To get help with your child’s sleep, you can talk to professionals with expertise in early childhood or child and baby sleep.

Child and family health nurses

Your child and family health nurse is a good place to start. They can give you information and advice on sleep and other early childhood concerns. You can get in touch with your nurse through your local early childhood centre. Check our local services guides to find your nearest centre, or call Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.

GP or paediatrician

If your child is very difficult to settle and get to sleep, you could speak to your GP. They can check for any health or developmental concerns. They can also refer you to a paediatrician who specialises in settling and sleep in babies and toddlers.

Parent helplines

Parent helplines can give you ideas about how to handle sleep problems and tell you where to get help in your local area. Some helplines specialise in helping parents with babies and young children.

Some parent helplines are available after hours if you need help straight away.

Sleep professionals might also help you develop a sleep plan for your child. A sleep plan should suit your child’s needs and your family circumstances and cultural beliefs. The sleep professional should help you put the plan into action and give you extra support or put you in touch with another specialist or service if the plan isn’t working.

Sleep schools: what they are and how they can help

What is a sleep school?

Sleep schools are places you can go for help with baby and toddler sleep and settling problems.

Across Australia, these services have different names. For example, government sleep schools in Victoria are also called early parenting centres.

How a sleep school can help you

Staff at sleep schools understand what you and your child are going through. They’re used to dealing with all kinds of feeding and settling problems. They can help you:

  • develop a plan that encourages your child to sleep more
  • develop settling, feeding and play routines for your child
  • manage personal issues related to your child’s sleep.

Different sleep schools offer different kinds of help. This might include:

  • advice
  • referral to a parent education session
  • a day-stay program
  • a residential program.

If you go into a residential program, you’ll stay in a family unit with beds, a cot and everything you need, including in-house support. There might be a waiting list at some centres.

How to get into a sleep school

For some sleep schools, you need a referral from your child and family health nurse or GP or another health professional. For others, you can contact the centre directly.

How much does a sleep school cost?

Most government parenting centres are free, because Medicare covers the cost. You might have to pay extra for things like nappies and meals.

Private centres offer the same service, but Medicare doesn’t cover the full cost. If you have private health insurance, you might be able to get some money back from your fund.

Your child and family health centre can tell you more about local parenting centres.

Where to find sleep schools around Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Phone Tresillian Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre on 1300 272 736.

New South Wales

Phone:

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory doesn’t have parenting centres, but the Ellen Barron Family Centre in Queensland offers services to the Northern Territory. You can phone the Centre on (07) 3139 6500 or 1300 408 213.

You can also call Parentline on 1300 301 300 for support and advice on early parenting issues.

Queensland

Phone the Ellen Barron Family Centre on (07) 3139 6500 or 1300 408 213.

South Australia

Phone:

Tasmania

Phone:

Victoria

Phone:

Western Australia

Phone Ngala Family Resource Centre on (08) 9368 9368 (Perth callers) or 1800 111 546 (regional callers).

Working on baby sleep and toddler sleep problems at home

The child health professionals you talk to at early parenting centres, child and family health centres, and helplines will have plenty of strategies for you to try at home. As you start putting these strategies into practice, it can help to keep the following points in mind:

  • Be patient. It takes time to get used to new routines, and your child might cry more or be more difficult to settle initially. Make a plan with the professional for how long you’ll try something before deciding that it isn’t working and trying something else.
  • Be consistent. Do your best to stick to the plan for your child. Your child will adapt better to changes in their sleep and settling habits if you’re consistent.
  • Keep your child’s sleep plan handy. Reading your child’s sleep plan again will remind you of what you need to do. When things aren’t working, you can double-check to see whether you’re following the strategies correctly. It’s OK to contact your professional again if you need help.
  • Try to organise back-up when you start new strategies. Find out who you can contact for help or emotional support. For example, most early parenting centres provide a telephone number for follow-up concerns. They have staff who can answer your questions.
  • Talk with your partner, if you have one, and make sure you agree on the plan. It’s less stressful for your family and the plan is more likely to work when you and your partner agree.

It can help to have support from friends or family when you’re trying to change your child’s sleep and settling habits. Support might be a friend to listen to you or a family member who can be with your child while you take a break and catch up on rest. Our support networks activity helps you work out where to get support, who can support you and how to expand your support network.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.