You’ve navigated your way through the waters of babyhood but now find yourself working with an opinionated toddler. Toddlers can be amazingly fun as they learn to talk better and express their thoughts and ideas. Now that they’re bigger, so are their tantrums and resistance to bedtime. However, with good sleep habits and a plan, bedtime doesn’t have to be a battleground.
Sleep is highly responsive to habits and behaviors, which gives you more power over sleep patterns. With children (and adults), sleep success often relies on consistency so keep that in mind as you read through our list of healthy sleep suggestions.
How to Help Your Toddler Get Better Sleep
Physical Comfort
Children can be highly sensitive to physical discomfort. If you’ve ever had to pull a pair of socks off your toddler and put them back on inside out because the toe seam is uncomfortable, you know exactly what I mean.
For your child to fully relax and calm down, their bed or crib has to be physically comfortable. Check the mattress, bedding, and your child’s pajamas for any physical sleep disruptors like tags, seams, or scratchy embellishments.
Emotional Comfort
If you’re going to talk about comfort, you can’t forget emotions. Toddler emotions are big. Luckily for you, at this stage, emotional comfort can come in the form of an item like a blanket or stuffed animal.
If separation anxiety is also an issue, you may want a few backup comfort items (several of the same blanket) around in case one is dirty.
Be sure to check your child’s comfort item for any strings, buttons, snaps, or fillings that could pose a choking or strangulation hazard.
Create a Solid (Quiet) Bedtime Routine
A bedtime routine serves two purposes. First, it helps your child calm down to prepare for sleep. Second, it teaches your child’s brain to recognize when to start the sleep cycle.
If you’re not sure what to include, consider these bedtime routine ideas:
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Use Bedtime for Bonding: You might have to include a few unpleasant activities like picking up toys and brushing teeth, but overall, bedtime can be used as a special quiet time with your child. Holding your toddler while you read a book or sing a few quiet songs together can be moments you’ll both remember for years to come. And, try to start early enough that you can slow things down and not rush.
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Set It to Music: Children enjoy independence but toddlers may not be able to get through a bedtime routine without help. You can buy or create a playlist with songs to guide your child through the routine. For example, song one means it’s time to pick up toys. Song two signals the time to put on pajamas, brush teeth, and get a drink of water. While song three plays quietly in the background as you read a story and snuggle on the couch. If you use the same songs every night, your child will automatically know what he should do next.
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Be Consistent: The human body and children, in particular, thrive off of predictability. Try to start the routine at the same time every night and do each activity in the same order. Finally, don’t expect things to go perfectly every night and leave room for the unexpected (you’re dealing with a toddler after all).
Set a Bedtime and Follow It
Bedtime should be like your child’s nightly routine – consistent. Set a time and stick to it religiously. You won’t need to do this forever, but if your toddler resists and struggles to fall asleep, consistency will be the key to better sleep for everyone.
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Conclusion
It can take several days to a few weeks to see improvement at bedtime. Be patient with your child and yourself. With effort and time, you’ll be able to help your child develop healthy sleep habits that will serve him for a lifetime. And, who knows, maybe you’ll get better sleep too.
What are you tips to help your toddler get better sleep? We’d love to hear!
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