Toddlers can be your greatest joy or worst nightmare.
Their volatile moods and stubborn natures can spark tantrums at any time, leading to bedtime battles on more days than you care for.
Getting them to sleep peacefully seems difficult, but it can be done with a few simple changes.
Wind Down
Toddlers have large emotions, meaning they can take some time to calm down after a long day. Keeping them up and running until their bedtimes near is not a good idea.
They need time to wind down before bed so that they don’t get restless. An energetic toddler in bed spells disaster.
They may start kicking at their sheets, throwing pillows and toys or worse, get completely out of bed to resume playing.
Try to have at least 45 minutes before bed that you engage your toddler in calming activities like reading. As long as you do not stimulate their minds too much, they should be much more manageable than one who has just finished playing.
Routine and Timing
Having a proper bedtime routine might ease your battles with your toddler. Continuity and order can be a good thing for their quality of sleep.
A normal routine consists of a shower, brushing their teeth, getting dressed and optionally, a bedtime story or lullaby. You are probably still doing these things for your toddler so make sure they get done every night.
It is best if their bedtime is at roughly the same time every night as well. This will make bedtime seem like a standard procedure; leaving little room for tantrums.
Full Bellies
No one likes to go to bed hungry. Toddlers eat quite a lot to develop healthily so they may get hungry before sleeping.
Check in with them before brushing their teeth so you can give them bedtime snack. Even if they’re already in bed, a cup of milk will do the trick to settle them.
A hungry child will inevitably become restless as they are uncomfortable. Making sure your toddler is at ease before they go to sleep will make their temperament significantly better.
That being said they should not be too full. Just make sure they are not hungry.
Cozy Rooms
Sleep isn’t a chore. and so it should be treated as something to look forward to. One way to do this is make their bedroom more homey.
The more inviting their bedroom is, the less hesitant your toddler will be to spend time there. As they are now past infancy, they may be using a new bedroom that makes them reluctant to sleep there.
Make sure it is warm or cool enough, there are plenty of comfy beddings and most importantly, have their favourite stuffed toys and comfort items.
Being cozy and comfortable can mean a world of difference to a tired, cranky toddler.
Don’t Skip Naps
It may seem counterintuitive to make your toddler sleep more to help them go to bed at night, but this is where we see the importance of a balanced schedule.
Naps ensure your toddler is well-rested enough to avoid being cranky at night. Extremely tired children tend to be more irritable and want to stay awake even longer.
Sleeping for one or two hours in the afternoon will prevent them from feeling too cranky later on, especially if unforeseen circumstances force them to be awake later than usual.
Tire Them Out
Although you don’t want your toddler to be too tired, you need to get rid of their restless energy before bed. Get them outdoors or involved in some sort of physical activity.
Some options are swimming, going to the park, playing tag or even just running around the house. Try to engage them and be really enthusiastic, so not only are they getting exercise, they’re having fun.
Your toddler will get a much better rest when they are physically tired. Finding the right balance of rest and play is the key to winning these bedtime battles.
Positive Encouragement
Sometimes parents lose sight of what is important to kids. Toddlers are just beginning to realise they have control over when they sleep, so it makes sense that they aren’t used to it yet.
Encourage them when they do well, and take notice of their progress. Sometimes they toddlers just don’t know why they have to follow the rules so explain it to them.
Let them know they’ve done a good job when they stay in bed all night or don’t make a big fuss to get in. Scolding them will just reinforce the idea that bedtime is something they don’t like.
Once Sleep Comes
As soon as the bedtime battles are over, let your toddler get their rest. They may have been reluctant to fall asleep but they truly need the rest to be hale and healthy.
It may take some time for your toddler to settle into a proper bedtime routine but they will surely learn in time.
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