Q. My 2-year-old still doesn't sleep through the night. He is up crying at least four or five times every night. He is not sleeping during rest time at his preschool either. I am overwhelmed!

A. Overwhelmed -- and tired, we'd bet. Here are a few suggestions.

First, consult with your son's pediatrician to make sure there's no medical explanation for the sleeplessness.

Once you're certain your child is healthy, give your household a "bedtime makeover."

Create a regular sleep schedule -- for example, bed every night by 7. Establish guidelines for where to sleep: not on the sofa, not on the parental bed, but in his own bed.

Develop a relaxing bedtime routine: perhaps a soothing bath, comfortable jammies, and a bedtime story in your child's room--let your son choose from an array of books you obtain from the bookstore­­ or the library. When you snuggle in for the story, have your son hold a transitional object -- buy a small stuffed toy or a small soft blanket to be his "bedtime buddy" and tuck it in with him before you kiss him goodnight.

During the pre-bed routine, keep lights low and voices soft -- no physical play, no TV or anything else stimulating.

When your son wakes up through the night, allow him to self-soothe. This will definitely try your patience, and fray your nerves, for a few nights, but we suspect he will fairly quickly learn to go back to sleep on his own.

Talk with your son's preschool teacher about his new routine, and see if the school will allow him to have his transitional object with him for use at naptime.

Good luck. We hope both you and your son will soon sleep better!