Frustrared Mother of 2 year

[Jane_Strydom_2010]

My 20 month old daughter is a bad sleeper. She still wakes up 1 -2 times a night. In the morning when she wakes up she is very grumpy as if she didn't have enough sleep. She goes to bed between 7 and 8 at night and wakes anything from 5, excl. The wakings during the night. She sleeps 1 day sleep of between 45 and 90 min, but still wakes up very grumpy. She throws herself around as if having a tantrum. I have given her some panado, but she still doesn't wake up a happy child. The last 3 days have been the worst! Please help! I am at my witt's end

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I think you are prudent in being cautius about relyiong on medication (even antihistamine) for sleep for such a young child. Maintaining a stable schedule along with good nutrition whould result in a smoothing out of her sleep/wake cycle as she matures.

[Jane_Strydom_2010]

Good day Dr Kennedy,

We stay in a small town in he Northern Cape and you have to phone at least a week in advance to be able to get a doctor's  appointment.  I have taken her to a pediatrician in Jhb in November last year and they just prescribe medicine, i.e.  stilpane, aterax, etc. to get her out of the habit of waking up at night.  Medicine with antihistamine (not sure of spelling) just makes her 'hyperactive' and then she sleeps even less.  I have tried panado, but it makes her sleep 4 hours at a time and I am not a mother that gives medicine like its sweets.  I only give medicine if I feel it is really really necessary.  I am scared for dependance on medicine that makes her drowsy, i.e. stilpane, panado, etc.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Any short-term sleep problems with a young child can be due to temporary issues such as teething, illness, developmental changes. However, if there has been a chronic problem with sleep, as you suggest, it is wise to discuss it with her pediatrician. I would not advise continuing to give her the medicine, unless the doctor instructed you to do so.