Is It Normal for a Toddler to Wake Up During the Night and Fall Back to Sleep?

Sleep Patterns

• Sleep involves a series of cycles that take the body and brain through formal stages. Toddlers have between 20 and 30 minutes of REM, the deepest sleep phase, during each sleep cycle, according to the University of Washington. A typical toddler goes through several cycles in a night. Cycles begin with light sleep in the first two phases, and children may briefly wake and fall back to sleep during these times when disturbed by room sounds or physical discomfort. Minimizing the amount of room noise and bright light helps children move into the heavy sleep cycles without waking.

Discomfort Waking

• Uncomfortable pajamas, bedsheets, or blankets may cause kids to temporarily wake to pull down pant legs or rearrange bedding. Minimize the risk for your toddler to awaken during the night by selecting pajamas that fit and bedding that stays tucked securely under the mattress. Cribs and beds filled with toys also interfere with sound sleep when toddlers need to wake and move toys to reposition arms and legs.

Separation Anxiety

• Most toddlers feel anxious when first separated from parents at night, and this carries over to the period of light sleeping in the first few sleep phases. Young children wake for assurance, and placing a favorite toy at eye level on a nearby nightstand gives kids immediate comfort to return to sleep. Some toddlers hug small blankets to gain assurance during this time of night. Mayo Clinic notes that separation anxiety typically evaporates by age 24 months, but some toddlers still experience these feelings through preschool.

Dreams and Nightmares

• The Cleveland Clinic reports that bad dreams and nightmares typically begin for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. Toddlers under stress, overly tired, or bothered by room light or outside noises sometimes also have night terrors. Young sleepers sometimes sit up, scream, yell, shout, stare with eyes open or thrash around. After the terror, the toddler returns to deep sleep and doesn't remember the event, according to Mayo Clinic. Allowing your toddler to sleep with a favorite stuffed toy or small blanket helps sooth her to return to sleep after waking from a bad dream. Some toddlers feel comfort from a low night-light when sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings.

Sleep Talking and Walking

• Your toddler may talk and walk around while sleeping. Parents typically think kids wake during these periods, but toddlers frequently have no memory of the event and fall back to sleep immediately after the nighttime interruption, according to KidsHealth. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that most children experience nighttime walking or talking at some time, although toddlers typically outgrow the behavior before the teen years.