Having trouble getting their
toddler to sleep, many parents have a difficult time getting
their toddler on a regular sleeping pattern. Because all
children are different and parents have hectic schedules it can
become very difficult at times, even frustrating. Here are some
helpful tips to get your toddler to sleep.
The best tip is to put your
toddler on a schedule and keep with it, set a bedtime and a nap
time for during the day. If your toddler attends a daycare or is
with a caregiver make sure you have them try to follow the
schedule you have planned out. Toddlers that take a nap and get
enough sleep through out the night in general are much happier
and rested to get through there day.
Bedtime should be set for after
dinner and their bath. Baths will relax your child and I find
about 15 to 20 minutes of cuddling or relaxing them helps as
well. If you find that your toddler becoming restless around
this time do not be alarmed, this is a sign of them being over
tired and ready for bedtime.
Keep to the time(s) you have
set. It can be hard at first, for some reason toddlers think
they will miss out in something by going to sleep even though
there bodies require it. You are not doing anything wrong or
being a bad parent if your child cries. It is ok to go and get
them after a little while if they are still upset. Holding them
and calming them for anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes and then
putting them back to bed. As time goes on you may only have to
do this once and then eventually not at all. The key is to keep
to the schedule you have set.
I used this schedule with my
daughter starting when she was 3 months old. She would go to
sleep at 6:00pm and up by 7:00am back for a nap at 10:00am and
usual up by noon then a second nap at 2:00pm for about an hour
and then to bed after her bath and some cuddling. As time went
on I discarded the second nap but kept to my schedule. Now it is
very easy, she makes no fuss at bedtime, that is if she hasn't
fallen asleep first.
If you keep this pattern going
it will be like clock work. It may take time and every child is
different, some require more or less sleep but in the long run
it will make a happier child and happier parents.
