Sleeping
Good sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your child's health, mood, and learning.
Every guide in The IEP for Home library has the same simple structure: one big goal and a few small objectives. Work through the objectives one at a time to reach the goal. Each goal helps your child build skills for everyday life.
T H E S T R U C T U R EGOAL VS OBJECTIVE
What is the goal?
The goal is a child who sleeps well — falls asleep easily, stays asleep through the night, sleeps independently, and wakes up rested.
This goal starts with a number, unlike some of the others. Track the hours, fix the wake-up time, hold the schedule steady. Once the numbers are right, everything else — mood, behavior, learning — tends to follow.
What are the objectives?
There are five objectives for teaching sleeping. To teach your child how to sleep successfully, you will need to gather information about how much sleep they need; choose the right sleep helpers; set up the right wake-up time and bedtime; teach your child to fall asleep independently; and manage sleep without relying on medication.
Y O U R R O A D M A PFive objectives. Each one helps your child sleep better. Work through them in order and the goal takes care of itself.
THE OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE #1
Gather Information About Your Child's Sleep
Before you can improve sleep, you need facts. Track how much sleep your child gets now. Write down bedtime and wake time each day. Do this for one full week. This is your starting point. Remember you cannot fix a problem you have not measured. A clear picture makes the next steps easier.
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Step 1 — Track for one week:
⦿ Write down your child's bedtime and wake-up time every day.
⦿ Note how long it takes them to fall asleep.
⦿ Note any night wakings, and how long they last.
Step 2 — Compare against recommended hours:
⦿ Check your child's age against a standard sleep-hours chart.
⦿ See if your child is close to, above, or below that range.
⦿ Flag any big gaps — these become your starting point.
Step 3 — Look for patterns:
⦿ Is bedtime the same time every night, or does it shift?
⦿ Does your child fall asleep faster on some nights than others?
⦿ Is there a screen, snack, or activity right before bed that might be interfering?
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
Erik’s Tip ★
For objective #1
If you teach your child good sleeping habits, you will feel more confident as their best teacher — and your child will feel more confident as a successful learner. — Erik
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⦿ Pay attention to how you feel when you wake up each morning.
⦿ Tell a parent if you feel tired during the day or have trouble sleeping at night.
⦿ Try going to bed at the same time tonight as you did last night.
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⦿ Pick one method above and track your child's sleep for the next seven days.
⦿ Write the results down so you have a clear starting point.
⦿ If you are worried about the numbers, call your child's doctor before moving on.
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Step 1 — Choose a comfort object:
⦿ Let your child pick one item to keep with them at bedtime — a favourite toy, blanket, or pillow.
⦿ This object becomes a steady signal that sleep time is coming.
Step 2 — Choose a bedtime ritual (about 10 minutes total):
⦿ Have a short talk about the day.
⦿ Say a prayer together.
⦿ Read a short story together.
Note: These steps work well for young children and older children with developmental delays.
What NOT to use as sleep helpers:
⦿ Food or drinks — stop these at least one hour before the bedtime routine.
⦿ Screens (phones, tablets, TV) — these stimulate the brain and make it harder to fall asleep.
Set up a sleep-friendly room:
⦿ Keep the room dim or dark.
⦿ Keep the temperature cool.
⦿ Make sure the room is quiet.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #2
Choose Sleep Helpers (Sleep-Onset Associations)
Sleep helpers are special objects and short routines that signal to your child's brain that it is time to relax and fall asleep. Choosing the right ones makes bedtime much easier. The right ones don't need to be complicated. They need to be predictable. A brain that knows what comes next relaxes faster than one that's guessing.
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⦿ Pick your special sleep helper — a toy, blanket, or pillow — and keep it just for bedtime.
⦿ Choose one bedtime ritual you enjoy and do it every night.
⦿ Turn off all screens at least one hour before bed.
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⦿ Help your child choose one comfort object and one bedtime ritual this week.
⦿ Remove all screens from the bedroom at least one hour before bed.
⦿ Set up the room to be dark, cool, and quiet every night.
Erik’s Tip ★
For objective #2
The right sleep helper is the one your child chooses. Give them ownership of that choice — they will hold onto it every night. — Erik
A regular sleep schedule helps your child's internal body clock work properly. The most important part is keeping the same wake-up time every single day. Start with the wake-up time, not the bedtime. Fix that first, hold it every day including weekends, and the right bedtime finds itself.
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Step 1 — Fix the wake-up time first:
⦿ The wake-up time is more important than the bedtime because it sets the whole sleep cycle.
⦿ Choose a wake-up time that works for your family — this is your decision, not your child's.
⦿ Keep this wake-up time the same every day, including weekends, for the first 2 to 4 weeks of training.
⦿ Do not allow your child to sleep in or take a nap just because they had a rough night. It’s easier to teach new sleeping habits when your child is tired!
Step 2 — Handle naps carefully:
⦿ Most children do not need a nap after the age of five.
⦿ If a nap is needed, keep it under 1 to 2 hours and at the same time every day.
⦿ Do not allow extra naps to make up for a bad night — this disrupts the nighttime schedule.
⦿ For school-age children, gradually reduce daytime naps until they are fully eliminated.
⦿ If your child is sleepy at school, let your child's school know that sleeping during the day is not permitted.
Step 3 — Choose the bedtime:
⦿ Once the wake-up time is fixed and naps are reduced, you are ready to set bedtime.
⦿ Bedtime should be 9 to 11 hours before the wake-up time for most children.
Recommended Bedtimes
⦿ Wake up at 6:00 AM → Aim for 10 hours of sleep → Bedtime: 8:00 PM
⦿ Wake up at 7:00 AM → Aim for 9 hours of sleep → Bedtime: 10:00 PM
Optional — Mild sleep deprivation to speed up training:
⦿ If your child takes a long time to fall asleep, try starting bedtime one hour later than usual for the first 5 to 7 days.
⦿ When you put your child to sleep later, it makes your child more tired the next night and helps them fall asleep faster.
⦿ Keep the wake-up time fixed throughout. After a week, figure out when your child is tired at bedtime, and adjust the bedtime back to whatever time seems best.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #3
Set a Consistent Sleep Schedule
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⦿ Get up at the same time every morning, even on weekends.
⦿ Avoid napping during the day unless a parent says it is okay.
⦿ Start your bedtime routine at the same time every night.
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⦿ Decide on a fixed wake-up time tonight and stick to it for at least two weeks.
⦿ Use the table above to calculate the right bedtime based on your child's sleep needs.
⦿ Let your child's school know about the new sleep schedule and ask them not to allow daytime napping.
Erik’s Tip ★
For objective #3
Fix the wake-up time first; then everything else follows. That one decision dictates the bedtime. Then you can figure out the bedtime. After that, you can figure out naps. Hint: napping is good for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Any child who is older probably doesn’t need a nap. — Erik
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Why children should sleep independently:
⦿ More independence for the child and better sleep for the parents!
⦿ Children can learn to sleep independently at any age — ideally before age eight.
⦿ Both you and your child may lose some sleep at the start, but consistency leads to success.
Choose your training method:
Method 1 — Quick Method ("Cold Turkey"):
⦿ Remove all parent support at once.
⦿ The parent no longer joins the child in their bed.
⦿ The child falls asleep completely on their own from the very first night. They might fall asleep somewhere that’s not their bed or their bedroom! That’s OK. You just need to make sure that they fall asleep on their own.
Method 2 — Slow Method ("Fading"):
⦿ Night 1: the parent stops lying in bed but sits right next to the child's bed.
⦿ Next nights: the parent moves their seat a little further from the bed each night.
⦿ Then, the parent sits by the bedroom door.
⦿ After that, the parent moves out of sight, keeping some quiet verbal contact.
⦿ Finally: All contact — including talking — stops completely.
Important things to remember:
⦿ Fussing and crying are a normal part of learning — do not panic. The key moment is when your child eventually falls asleep on their own for the first time. They just need to accomplish that skill 3 to 5 nights in a row. Once they have achieved this level of success, they should be able to fall asleep consistently on their own.
⦿ Do not allow sleeping in or extra naps just because the night was hard — consistency is everything.
⦿ Most families see major improvement within 3 to 5 nights.
⦿ If the process feels too hard, it is okay to pause and try again during a school break or holiday when you have more energy.
⦿ Always let your child's doctor know before starting sleep training.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #4
Teach Your Child to Fall Asleep Independently
Some children rely on a parent to fall asleep and to stay asleep. This objective helps your child use their comfort object and bedtime ritual — instead of a parent — to fall asleep on their own. It will feel harder before it feels easier. Both of you may lose sleep in the first few nights. Stay consistent and it will pass.
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⦿ Hold your comfort object and try to close your eyes on your own tonight.
⦿ Remember: feeling a little uncomfortable is part of learning — it will get easier each night.
⦿ In the morning, tell a parent how it went — even if it was hard.
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⦿ Choose your training method — Quick or Slow — and commit to it fully.
⦿ Keep the wake-up time fixed no matter how the night goes.
⦿ Celebrate with your child every morning — focus on their effort, not just the outcome.
Erik’s Tip ★
For objective #4
Every child who falls asleep on their own for the first time has achieved something huge. Make sure they know that in the morning. — Erik
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Before thinking about medication, ask yourself:
⦿ How many hours does my child need versus how many they actually get?
⦿ Where does my child sleep — in their own bed, or with a parent?
⦿ What are their current sleep helpers and bedtime rituals?
Many parents find that their child does not have a sleep problem once they have gathered this information and made simple habit changes. Medication may not be needed at all.
If you are considering medication:
⦿ Go through Objectives 1 to 4 first and establish a solid sleep routine before discussing medication with a doctor.
⦿ If a medical condition — such as snoring, seizures, or pain — is disrupting your child's sleep, speak with your child's doctor about it specifically.
If your child is already on sleep medication:
⦿ Talk to your child's doctor about the safest way to reduce or stop the medication.
⦿ Gradually lower the dose once sleep is stable — do not stop suddenly.
⦿ Sleep may temporarily get worse when medication is removed. If this happens, follow the steps in Objectives 1 to 4 and contact your child's doctor.
A note for parents:
⦿ Sleep-deprived parents do not function well. Before working on your child's sleep, make sure you are getting enough rest yourself.
⦿ Use the information in this guide for your own sleep habits as well, if needed.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #5
Manage Sleep Without Relying on Medication
Good sleep habits should always come before considering medication. This objective helps you decide whether medication is truly needed — and what to do if your child is already taking it. Most families get here and find they don't need it after all. The habits alone were the missing piece.
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⦿ Tell a parent if anything makes it hard to sleep — a pain, a noise, or a worry.
⦿ Keep following the sleep routine every night, even when it feels hard.
⦿ Notice how your energy and mood improve as your sleep gets better.
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⦿ Complete Objectives 1 to 4 before considering any medication changes.
⦿ Speak to your child's doctor if you suspect a medical issue is interfering with sleep.
⦿ If your child is on medication, ask the doctor about a plan to safely reduce it once sleep is stable.
⦿ Prioritise your own sleep too — you cannot pour from an empty cup.
Erik’s Tip ★
For objective #5
Children are not born knowing how to sleep well — they need to learn it. And when you teach them, you show them what a great teacher you are. — Erik
Talk to an Expert
These suggestions work for most children. But every child is unique. Some tips may not fit your son or daughter. Talk with your child's physician first. A physician knows your child's needs best. Trust their professional guidance over anything general.
If things get hard, reach out for support. You do not have to do this alone. Help is always within reach.
