Preschoolers generally need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep each night. Children who don't get enough sleep may be drowsy or irritable during the day and are more susceptible to illness. Like everyone else, children differ in their need for sleep. You can tell if your child isn't getting enough sleep if he or she is unusually fussy or crabby during the day, especially in the early evening. If your child attends day care or preschool, ask the teachers if your child appears tired; preschoolers who are fatigued during the day can miss out on some of the learning experiences these programs can provide.

Although many children stop taking naps at this age, it's still a good idea to put your child to bed with books or cuddly toys or have quiet times once or twice a day to calm the child down. Children this age can be over stimulated and have a hard time settling down enough to fall asleep at night even if they are tired. It is especially important at this age to establish a regular bedtime and be firm about enforcing it, even if your child doesn't always fall asleep right away. Maintain a regular bedtime routine, such as bathing and brushing teeth. Many children have an easier time falling asleep if their last 1 or 2 hours before bedtime are spent in low-key, comforting activities such as reading, telling stories, singing a favorite song, or sharing the best parts of the day. Avoid roughhousing or starting lengthy play activities right before bedtime. Turn the television off long before bedtime; some children have a hard time calming down after watching TV.

If you work full-time, it's especially important to put your child to bed at a regular time-even if it means spending less time with your child. Postponing bedtime can prevent your child from getting a sufficient amount of sleep and can turn him or her into a tired, cranky evening companion-and strain your relationship. However, focus all your attention on your preschooler at this time. You can prepare dinner and eat together, or just sit and read or talk about feelings, concerns, or each other's day. Give your child lots of lap time.

Most preschoolers sleep through the night, but they may wake up several times, check their surroundings, and fall back to sleep. If your child wakes up and calls for you, give him or her about 10 minutes to go back to sleep before you respond. If your child is still awake, go to his or her room, give reassurance that everything is all right, and leave; don't provide anything to eat or drink and don't bring the child to your bed. Sometimes, preschoolers are awakened by frightening dreams that they think are real. If your child wakes up afraid and crying in the middle of the night, go to him or her and give comfort, support, and reassurance until he or she has calmed down.

Most preschoolers wet their bed at least occasionally while they are going through nighttime toilet training. Some children who have stayed dry for a number of days or weeks may suddenly start wet- ting the bed, often after a stressful event or change in their lives. In these cases, its best not to make an issue of it; just go back to using training pants at night for a while. If the problem persists, talk to your child's doctor; he or she may recommend an enuresis (bed-wetting) treatment program.