Show YOUR BABY AND MINE I Dont Don't Worry About Childs Child's Wakefulness By MYRTLE MEYER ELDRED Among any parents you'll find the simple problems of eating and sleeping assuming major importance the first few months of life Children are expected to sleep when sleepy and eat cat when hungry but hungry but unfortunately unfortunate unfortunate- ly they ly-they they do not always foIl follow ow this routine like a treadmill even though well fed and secure Mrs S. S M. M admits she could stand her daughters daughter's wakefulness wakeful- wakeful ness better if she knew why she acts as she does I will be very grateful she writes if you can shed some light on a sleeping problem that has existed in our home for the past eight or nine months Our 17 old months daughter daug has always gone to bed happily and willingly enough yet ever since she was 9 months old she has awakened every night at least once and sometimes as much as three times She stands up in her bed and screams so that I am awakened promptly I have always picked her up soothed her and changed her diaper and put her back to bed Whereupon she has fallen asleep again After keeping this up for nine months I feel as if I haven't had a decent nights night's sleep for forso forso forso so long that I am in a state of exhaustion Also I have begun to wonder whether her wakefulness wakeful- wakeful ness is due to habit whether it itis itis itis is a basic insecurity or whether she just wants her diaper changed Whatever the cause I will probably continue to have my sleep disturbed but I would at least like liJe to know the cause of the trouble You might test the wetness theory by letting her go unchanged unchanged unchanged un un- changed for a night or two and see if she falls asleep as prompt prompt- ly If she does then you know it is not that which is disturbing disturbing disturbing disturb disturb- ing her If you imagine she has basic insecurities then only you can resolve them It is more than probable that the child sleeps in n the same room with you and instead of turning over and going to sleep when she wakens she sees you and starts screaming for atten atten- tion If this does not fit the case then you will have to hunt for causes of wakefulness in the days day's menu particularly the evening evening evening eve eve- ning one or physical causes in inducing inducing inducing in- in wakefulness wal Our leaflet No 38 Hours of Sleep may help you to regulate regulate regulate regu regu- late your childrens children's nap and sleep times Obtain this leaflet by sending a stamped self ad dressed envelope with your request request request re re- re- re quest to Myrtle Meyer Eldred in care of the Salt Lake Telegram Home Service Bureau |