These Are the Top Sleep Challenges for Parents With Young Kids

It’s no secret that parents of young children don’t get a lot of sleep. Previous studies have found new parents struggle with disrupted sleep for up to six years after baby’s birth. Now, in honor of World Sleep Week, one survey is looking at the top sleep challenges these parents face.

The survey was conducted by Huckleberry, an app designed to help parents sleep better. It looked at 48,000 parents of kids aged 0 to 5. It examined their sleep patterns, challenges, main priorities and habits. Night wakings were found to be the primary concern for parents of kids aged 0 to 2—and continued to be a challenge as the children aged, as 22 percent of parents to preschoolers said they woke up every half hour to four hours.

However, parents of preschoolers cited easier bedtime routines as their primary concern. Plus, 46 percent of parents of preschoolers said their child has a newly occuring sleep issue and 59 percent said it takes their child a long time to fall asleep. Other challenges the parents discussed included naps and a more predictable sleep schedule.

Given the findings, the survey says sleep routines and better bedtime transitions are more important than ever for families. “A new baby brings so much joy but there can be challenges and questions around naps, bedtime and night wakings. Parents want to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s sleep patterns," Huckleberry co-founder and CEO, Jessica Toh, said in a press release. “Disrupted sleep can affect parents’ wellbeing and often results in feelings of isolation or being overwhelmed, especially when sleep patterns change and what used to work for their baby no longer works as their child grows.”

Check out some tips and tricks on how to settle into a better bedtime routine here. For questions relating to your specific circumstances, it’s always best to reach out to your pediatrician. They’ll be able to help or put you in touch with a pediatric sleep specialist who can. You’re probably exhausted all the time right now, but know you’re not alone and it will get better!

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.