From biological factors like circadian rhythm and nutrient deficiencies to emotional needs, sensory sensitivities, and environmental influences, sleep challenges can have many root causes. This guide explores 26 potential reasons your child may be finding sleep difficult—and how to start finding real solutions.

Guest post from Cinta Rymer. If your little one is restless at night or waking frequently, have you considered hunger as the culprit behind this? A rumbling tummy is one of the key reasons that toddlers and children wake overnight – I mean, they’re incredibly active during the day and they often don’t consume a huge amount of food at the evening meal. The good news is there’s a really simple strategy that might make for a more restful night of sleep – introducing an evening snack.  

While there are averages when it comes to how long a child sleeps at each age, they are just that. Averages. What is actually still biologically normal and healthy can fall within a wider range.