How to Get a Toddler to Sleep

Even if you know how important sleep is, your toddler may have a completely different view of bedtime. With so much going on and seemingly not enough time in the day to tackle all the exciting activities, your toddler may resist going to sleep as if she is going to miss something amazing. Luckily, you can pull out your own bag of tricks to get her prepped for some shut-eye and hopefully cut down on the bedtime battles.

Things You'll Need

  • Books, simple puzzles and/or other quiet activities
  • Bedtime snack
  • Pajamas
  • Security object
  • Sticker chart

Instructions

    • 1

      Establish and stick to a regular nighttime routine. This will allow your toddler to know what to expect and will hopefully cut down on bedtime meltdowns. Consistency and predictability is key.

    • 2

      Start the evening wind-down early, recommends Aha! Parenting. An hour or two before bedtime, encourage your toddler to participate in quiet activities, like simple puzzles or looking at books. Turn off the television, as this can be stimulating. A warm bath before brushing his teeth can also help calm and relax your child. For instance, you can start to wind down at approximately 6:30 p.m. and bedtime can be at 7:30. Use the clock for reference and make it the ̶0;bad guy,̶1; not you. Say ̶0;The clock says it̵7;s time to start cleaning up̶1; or ̶0;According to the clock, you have five minutes until bedtime.̶1;

    • 3

      Offer a bedtime snack to tide your child over until morning. A glass of milk or a slice of toast should do it. Avoid sugar or foods with caffeine.

    • 4

      Let your child pick her own pajamas. Give her two options and let her choose. This may seem small, but allowing her to feel independent and competent by making a choice can help avoid a bedtime power struggle.

    • 5

      Set the bedtime mood. Turn off radios and anything else that is making loud noises or turn the volume down. The temperature in your toddler̵7;s room should be on the cool side -- not too hot or cold. Turn the lights down. A small night-light or bedside lamp is fine.

    • 6

      Offer your child a security object, like his favorite stuffed animal or fuzzy blanket.

    • 7

      End the night with a bedtime story or a song. Finish with a hug and kiss goodnight. Be firm and direct if your toddler gets out of bed. Reassure her that she is safe and that it is time to rest. You can check on her every five minutes if she is really upset, but make it a quick reassurance and then leave.

    • 8

      Set up a reward system for staying in bed. Offer plenty of praise for following the rules. You can also set up a sticker chart. Every time your child stays in bed, offer him a sticker in the morning. After a certain number of stickers, offer him a slightly bigger prize, like a new book.

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