Poor sleep in children

ABOUT 40 per cent of parents surveyed say their child wakes at least twice a night, with a sleep expert warning it can negatively impact behaviour, health and development.

More than 200 people were surveyed, with 22 per cent reporting their children have six nights of interrupted sleep.

“I recommend parents teach their child to adequately self-settle at as young an age as possible to help reduce these wakeful periods,” sleep scientist Carmel Harrington said.

“They can start by spending only short intervals with them when they wake in the night.”