Getting your toddler to sleep
Tips for overcoming bedtime struggles and helping your child get the rest he or she needs.
Some kids will do anything to keep from going to bed. And toddlers seem to know all the tricks it takes to avoid going to sleep.
Even a 2-year-old can figure out ways to put off the inevitable by asking for one more story, one more kiss and one more drink of water.
But parents can use a few tricks of their own to get their kids to accept a regular bedtime. To pave the way for a peaceful passage into sleep, try these ideas from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
Know your child's sleep needs. Between ages 2 and 3 years, your child may sleep up to 14 hours a day. Some kids this age will take a daily nap for two to three hours—some may take two shorter naps instead. Others may give up napping entirely.
Daytime sleepiness, behavior or mood problems, or irritability may be signs of poor sleep or a sleep problem. If you think there's a problem, check with your child's healthcare provider.
Understand where sleep resistance starts. At ages 2 or 3, some kids try to assert themselves by refusing to do what their parents ask. Others may feel anxious about leaving their parents at bedtime, or they're afraid of the dark. Still others may want to stay up because older children are still up. Or in some cases, kids just get too wound up by the day's activities.
Whatever the cause, you'll need to be firm and patient to overcome bedtime battles.
Establish a bedtime routine. Your child's routine could include things such as reading a story, taking a bath, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, turning on a night-light and kissing you goodnight.
Allow your child to make choices within the routine, such as what pajamas to wear.
Try to handle common needs—such as a drink of water—before bedtime. That way your child can't use them as an excuse to call you back.
Help your child feel secure. Your child may feel more secure and less alone if he or she sleeps with a favorite toy or blanket. Make sure the object doesn't have attachments such as buttons that could come off, or pellet stuffing that could be released and cause choking.
If your child is afraid of the dark, turn on a night-light, leave the door ajar or leave the light on.
Give comfort when it's truly needed. Nightmares are common among toddlers. And they may be especially scary since tots can't tell the difference between dreams and reality. If your child remembers dreaming about a monster, he or she may believe the monster is real. After a nightmare, hold and comfort your child until he or she goes back to sleep.
Ignore pitiful pleas. Children should learn to fall asleep on their own in their own beds.
If your child cries or calls out, wait 10 minutes or so before you go to the bedroom. He or she may fall asleep in the meantime. If not, briefly reassure your child, but don't turn on the light or stay too long. Avoid scolding or punishing the child.
If your toddler climbs out of bed, put him or her back to bed right away and say firmly, "It's time to go to sleep." Over time, your child will know there's nothing to gain by trying to get your attention in that way.
Heading off trouble
Bedtime struggles may be less if you:
- Avoid active play around bedtime.
- Don't wait until your toddler falls asleep from exhaustion to put him or her to bed. Instead, watch the clock to see what time your child shows signs of sleepiness. Try to make that the regular bedtime.
- Don't allow your child to sleep in your bed. If your toddler comes to your bed in the night, return the child to his or her own bed. Be firm, but don't get angry.
Worth the effort
Helping your child develop good sleep habits is important. Sleep is vital for a child's health and growth. It also promotes alertness and memory. Kids who get enough sleep are more likely to function better and are less prone to behavioral problems and moodiness than those who get too little sleep, the NSF reports.
Reviewed 4/15/2024