Probably the most common reason that people write to my Ask Joanne column is to do with their child's sleep: from babies who keep waking up to toddlers waking at 3am.

I have real sympathy with the parents who write in, because when your child doesn't sleep well, it can be absolutely grim. Both of my children were terrible sleepers as babies.

So if you're struggling because of lack of sleep – please remember that this time will pass. You will get a full night's sleep. You might even have the luxury of a lie in.

My son used to wake up at least 10 times a night. I felt (and looked) like the living dead. He would have a two hour daytime nap to make up for it, but I had to work during that time, so no rest for me. It was really tough.

But now he's at school and conks out by 8pm. We don't see him again until at least 7.30am, and if he's the first one to wake up then he takes himself off to play with his toys.

At weekends my daughter gets positively miffed if we get up too early – she likes a bit of time to herself. What a difference from when she was a colicky baby who seemed to scream the whole night long.

So if you feel like the broken nights will never end, keep telling yourself that they do all sleep through in the end. If you're not sure about letting your child co-sleep with you, remember that they won't choose to do this forever, and you might miss them when they're gone.

Children will always find ways to tax their parents, but at least they won't torture you through lack of sleep forever. One day you will wake up from a full night's sleep, and the next phase of their childhood will have started.