Parenting Perspective 

Night-time interruptions from children are a normal part of family life, whether from a bad dream, a need for water, or a fear of the dark. While these moments are understandable, repeated disruptions can leave parents feeling drained and neglect their own time for connection. The solution is not to shame children for their needs, but to create a supportive plan that makes interruptions rare while ensuring the child always feels emotionally safe. 

Anticipate Needs Before Bedtime 

A proactive approach can prevent many night-time awakenings. Before you say goodnight, make a habit of offering a last sip of water, a final trip to the bathroom, and a few minutes to talk through any worries they might have. Concluding the routine with a reassuring phrase like, ‘You are safe and cosy in your bed, and we are right nearby’, can provide a great sense of security. 

Equip Them with Comfort Tools 

Empower your child to manage their own comfort by providing them with self-soothing aids. These could include: 

• A favourite soft toy or a special comfort blanket. 

• A dim night light to ease fears of the darkness. 

• A short dua that they can learn to repeat if they feel afraid. 

These tools help to build their resilience and independence. 

Keep Night-time Responses Calm and Brief 

If your child does wake up and come to you during the night, it is important to respond calmly and briefly. Avoid long conversations or automatically inviting them into your bed, as this can reinforce the pattern. Instead, gently guide them back to their own room with a simple, ‘It is okay, you are safe. Let us get you back into your own cosy bed’. Your calm, brief response offers reassurance without reinforcing the pattern. 

Acknowledge and Praise Their Independence 

In the morning, be sure to acknowledge their effort and success. A simple, cheerful, ‘You slept in your own bed all night long! We are so proud of you’, provides powerful positive reinforcement and makes them more likely to repeat the behaviour. 

By anticipating needs, offering tools for independence, and keeping your responses calm and brief, you can protect the peace of your night-time while teaching your child resilience. They feel supported and loved, not shamed for their fears, and learn to manage them with growing confidence. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam encourages a balance of mercy and patience when dealing with children, while also promoting order and peace within the family. Helping a child to manage their night-time fears with gentleness is a way of fulfilling your duty of care without allowing disruptive habits to overwhelm the household. 

The Principle of Gradual Guidance 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 286: 

‘ Allah (Almighty) does not place any burden on any human being except that which is within his capacity…’ 

This fundamental principle reminds us that we should guide our children with patience and wisdom, only expecting of them what they can handle at each stage of their development. Teaching them to sleep independently is a gradual process, not an overnight expectation. 

The Importance of Mercy with Children 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4943, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘He is not of us who does not show mercy to our young and respect to our elders.’ 

This Hadith makes it clear that mercy is a defining characteristic of a believer. Even when setting boundaries around night-time interruptions, our approach must be guided by compassion, so that our children feel supported and understood as they learn. 

By blending calm firmness with abundant mercy, you can keep night-time interruptions rare without shaming your child’s fears. Your children will grow up feeling safe in your love while learning the Islamic values of patience, dignity, and self-reliance.