You said that your child has problems falling asleep at bedtime. You may also notice that your child wakes up at night and has a hard time going back to sleep. His/her sleep problems may only happen when s/he has a cold or is sick. Sometimes stressful things make it hard for children to fall asleep.
Some examples are:
Your child may have problems falling asleep because you have a hard time setting limits. Your child may "stall" and try to avoid going to bed. S/he may do things like ask for more hugs/kisses, a drink of water, or an extra book/song. Sometimes children do this because they are feeling stressed or worried. Some things that may cause problems with sleep in the preschool years include:
Some medical problems can also cause problems with sleep. If your child has stomach pains, diarrhea, or asthma, this can make it hard for him/her to fall and stay asleep. If your child has a chronic illness this could also cause problems with his/her sleep.
Warning Signs that things are getting worse:
If you think these problems are getting worse talk to your child's doctor, even if you have discussed these things before.
Adapted in part from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care (DSM-PC) (1996).