If bedtime has ever left you wondering, Why is my child suddenly not sleeping?, you are definitely not the only mom asking that question.
Kids’ sleep can change seemingly overnight. One week they are climbing into bed without a fuss, and the next you are dealing with 47 requests for water, sweaty pajamas, blankets kicked onto the floor or a little sleeper who seems to change positions every five minutes.
In fact, sleep problems affect an estimated 20% to 30% of typically developing children. [1] And because kids need a lot of sleep, those restless nights can add up quickly. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 10 to 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours for children ages 3 to 5 and 9 to 12 hours for kids ages 6 to 12. [2]
While there is no single solution for every child, there are a few sleep challenges we hear about again and again from parents. Here are three of the most common, along with some practical ways to make bedtime a little easier.
1. Sleep Regression and the Suddenly-Impossible Bedtime
Just when you think you have bedtime figured out, something changes.
Your toddler who happily slept in their crib suddenly realizes they can climb out. Your preschooler starts asking you to stay for "just one more minute." Or your child gets their first big-kid bed and somehow seems much more interested in visiting your room than sleeping in their own.
Developmental changes, new routines and growing independence can all affect sleep. But that growing independence can also work in your favor.
Instead of making the transition to a new bed or mattress something that is happening to your child, make it something they get to be part of.
Have an open conversation with your child about getting their new big-kid mattress. Let them help choose their sheets and tell all about the features. Make setting up the bed an experience instead of simply another item on your parenting to-do list. You can put on music and 5 Little Monkeys kids mattress even has a box that turns into a fort!
There is something pretty powerful about hearing a child say, "This is MY new bed."
That sense of ownership can make the bed feel exciting instead of unfamiliar, and it gives them a reason to actually want to climb into it at night.
At 5 Little Monkeys, we think getting a new mattress should feel like a milestone worth celebrating. Every kids mattress arrives with a shipping box that transforms into a fort, so before the first night even begins, the experience is already theirs. Build the fort, climb inside, play for a while and let the excitement around the new sleep setup happen naturally.
The Kids Mattress Sleep System also includes a FREE kids pillow designed with the right amount of fill to support proper spinal alignment and a FREE waterproof mattress protector. Because if you are transitioning a toddler into a big-kid bed, you already know accidents are part of the deal. A waterproof protector means one less thing for you to stress about at 2 a.m.
Sometimes better sleep starts with simply helping kids feel proud of their bed and know it's all their own.
2. Night Sweats and Kids Who Sleep HOT
You put your child to bed perfectly comfortable, then check on them a couple of hours later and already their hair is sweaty, their pillow is damp and every blanket has been kicked onto the floor.
Some kids simply sleep hot.
Temperature matters during sleep because the body's sleep and temperature-regulation systems are closely connected. Research has found that heat exposure during sleep can increase wakefulness and interfere with deeper stages of sleep. [3]
That is why a cooling mattress can be especially important for children who tend to run warm at night.
The 5 Little Monkeys kids mattress features a dual-phase change temperature regulation layer designed to respond as their body temperature changes throughout the night. When they become warm, the material absorbs excess heat away from the body to help create a more comfortable sleep environment.
Think of it less like making the bed "cold" and more like helping move their built up heat aways from their body, keeping them much more comfortable.
And because kids' temperatures can fluctuate throughout the night, temperature regulation is different from simply adding a fan or turning the thermostat down. The goal is to help create a comfortable sleep surface around the sleeper so they are less likely to wake because they are too warm.
Of course, pajamas and bedding matter too. Lightweight, breathable sleepwear and bedding can help, especially during warmer months. If your child's night sweats are frequent, soaking or accompanied by other symptoms, it is always worth mentioning them to your pediatrician.
But for the everyday hot sleeper who seems determined to kick every blanket off the bed, starting with a mattress designed with temperature regulation can make their whole sleep setup more comfortable.
3. Tossing, Turning and the Child Who Sleeps Sideways by Morning
You tucked them in vertically.
You come back two hours later and they are horizontal.
By morning, somehow one leg is hanging off the bed, the pillow is on the floor and you are left wondering whether they actually slept or spent the entire night practicing gymnastics.
Some movement during sleep is completely normal. But when your child is constantly repositioning or seems uncomfortable, it is worth taking a closer look at what they are sleeping on.
Kids need support, but that does not mean they need to sleep on a rock-hard mattress.
One reason the 5 Little Monkeys mattress works so well as a mattress for tossing and turning is its cushion-firm feel. It combines the support growing bodies need with cradling comfort that gently contours around the body and helps ease pressure points.
That balance matters more than you might think.
A mattress that feels too hard can create uncomfortable pressure points, while one that allows a child to sink too deeply may not provide the support their growing body needs. The goal is a sleep surface that feels cozy when they climb into bed while still providing consistent support throughout the night.
And kids are not simply smaller adults. Their bodies are actively growing and changing, which is why choosing a mattress designed specifically for children makes sense.
When parents search for the best kids mattress, it is easy to get caught up comparing dozens of materials, heights and features. A simpler place to start is by asking:
Is this mattress actually designed around the way my child sleeps?
Does it provide supportive comfort for a growing body? Does it help regulate temperature? Is it comfortable enough that they actually want to sleep on it? And does it make life easier for parents when spills, accidents and everyday kid life happen?
Those are the details that matter at 8 p.m. and especially at 2 a.m.
Better Sleep Doesn't Have to Mean a Perfect Bedtime
There will still be nights when your child suddenly remembers they desperately need to tell you something the second you turn off the light.
There will still be lost stuffed animals, strange noises that need investigating and mornings when you find the blankets on the floor.
That's life with kids.
But their sleep environment is one part of bedtime you can control.
Whether you are navigating a sleep regression, trying to help a hot sleeper stay comfortable or searching for a mattress for tossing and turning, the goal is the same: create a sleep space that feels comfortable, supportive and completely theirs.
And if a new mattress is part of a big-kid transition, make it fun. Let them participate. Celebrate it. Build the fort. Pick out the sheets. Talk about their new bed like the exciting milestone it is.
Because sometimes getting kids excited about better sleep starts long before you turn out the lights.
Sources
[1] American Academy of Pediatrics, Sleep: Normal Patterns and Common Disorders. Sleep problems occur in an estimated 20% to 30% of typically developing children.
[2] American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Child Sleep Duration Health Advisory. Children ages 3 to 5 should generally get 10 to 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours, while children ages 6 to 12 should get 9 to 12 hours.
[3] Okamoto-Mizuno K, Mizuno K., Effects of Thermal Environment on Sleep and Circadian Rhythm. Research found that heat exposure can increase wakefulness and decrease slow-wave and REM sleep.