Toddlers. Many people think that having your child grow from a newborn into a toddler can mean that you will have to deliver less 24/7 hands on attention to them, but they would be wrong. Toddlers, though not necessarily known for their inability to sleep through the night, can have just as troubled a relationship with sleep as a newborn. Getting your toddler to sleep each night (and each nap time) comes with its own set of challenges. However, there are strategies that can make the nighttime routine smoother and help your little one drift off into dreamland in record time. Here are some tips to help you get your toddler to fall asleep quickly each night. Again, sound off in the comments with your experience and advice for other parents struggling with the same thing!
Establish A Consistent Bedtime Routine
Children thrive on routine and predictability. Creating a consistent bedtime routine can signal to your toddler that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. Start by setting a regular bedtime and follow the same sequence of activities every night. This might include a warm bath, brushing teeth, reading a story, and snuggling in bed or couch. A consistent routine helps signal to your toddler that it’s time to relax and prepare for sleep. Also, each day, provide your toddler with a session or two of time that they can play hard either at a park or local little gym or similar stimulating activity or environment. This will help them tire out for sleeping later.
It also helps to “fill their love tank” each day with quality 1 on 1 time with a parent or primary caregiver. If they get that physical contact and love, affection, and attention during the day, they are less likely to seek it out during night time. This will allow them to be more relaxed and connected come bedtime which will allow them to more easily fall asleep.
Create A Calm And Cozy Sleep Environment
A comfortable sleep environment is key to helping your toddler fall asleep quickly. Ensure their bedroom is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Consider using blackout curtains to block out any external light, and use a white noise machine to drown out any distracting noises. Opt for cozy and breathable bedding to keep your little one comfortable throughout the night. Along these lines, it also is worth noting that part of creating a cozy sleep environment at night stems from feeding their bellies and bodies up each day with valuable nourishment. Make sure that your kids are eating whole foods, with limited consumption of processed foods, refined sugars, and the like and make sure that they are getting lots of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods.
Limit Stimulating Activities Before Bed
It helps to encourage behaviors that focus on avoiding stimulating activities before bedtime. That can help your toddler ease into sleep more easily. Steer clear of energetic play (especially after bath time), bright or handheld screens, and sugary snacks close to bedtime. Instead, opt for quiet activities such as reading books, coloring, or listening to soft music. Encourage your toddler to wind down and relax, creating a peaceful atmosphere before sleep.
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for getting your toddler to sleep faster. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
