When Sleep Goes Wrong After a Change

Where to start

• Keep the bedtime routine, and the room, the same as before the change.
• Comfort your child when they wake upset, with the lights low, the same way each time.
• Leave other changes, such as moving to a big bed, until sleep has settled.
• If your child is still very upset at night after a few weeks, or you’re finding it hard to cope, talk to your health visitor or GP. A national sleep helpline gives parents advice on the sleep of children over one. The Sleep Charity, 03303 530 541. Mon and Wed 9am-11am; Tue and Thu 7pm-9pm; closed bank holidays and over Christmas. Outside those hours the line is closed. Samaritans answer at any hour on 116 123, and Shout answer if you text the word SHOUT to 85258.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

The Sleep Charity, Childrens Sleep Problems (updated September 2026); The Sleep Charity, Bedtime Routines (updated September 2026); NHS, Separation anxiety (reviewed June 2026); NHS, Helping your baby to sleep (reviewed January 2025); NHS, Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (reviewed November 2025)

It goes with

• The Hour Before Bed. For parents whose child’s bedtime has turned into an hour of worries, questions and meltdowns.
• Siblings and the Fights That Aren’t Fair. For parents whose children keep finding new ways to fall out with each other.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

• Sleep. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
• Transitions. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.