Start watching two children transforming from larvae to walking, talking is one of the great gifts of my life. I love their wobbly steps and hilariously expressed opinions—except when it’s bedtime. Their brains are leaking out of my ears, I’m exhausted and the sink is still full of dirty dishes. These kids need to go to sleep.
Every parent experiences this particular feeling of despair, whether they’re stuck in bed in the dark with their 3-year-old with separation anxiety, or when a toddler comes out. appeared at a particularly bloody time in his life. Our last Just ask for one more glass of water. I spoke to certified sleep consultants for some tips on how to get your baby to sleep.
Tinker with bedtime
As a sleep consultant and founder of Answers about baby sleepa company that provides science-based, customized sleep solutions for babies and toddlers, Andrea De La Torre says toddler fatigue is determined by two birthing processes learning—their internal process. circadian rhythm And sleep pressureor what we call fatigue.
The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that can get a toddler out of bed in the morning, but a child’s tolerance for fatigue increases as he gets older. That’s why babies sleep a lot, while adults can enjoy an after-dinner drink (sometimes). If your child has trouble falling asleep at the end of the day, you may have to adjust their daily schedule to accommodate their ever-changing natural rhythms.
Sleep consultant Molly Tartaglia, founder of sleep consultancy Molly Tartaglia, founder of the organization, said: “Many people assume their kids don’t sleep because they’re not tired and put them to bed too late. MMT sleep, which offers one-on-one support and digital courses for parents of children 7 years and under. “But going to bed earlier is always a good idea.” A good rule of thumb is to aim for 10 to 12 hours of sleep for 3 or 4 year olds, so if your child wakes up at 7 am, try to put him to bed around 7:30 or 8 pm. .
This is also the age when children begin to need less naps. If your child seems too happy at 8 p.m., you can try eliminating naps during the day or shortening them. “If they are still taking two naps, limit it to one. If they sleep for an hour, try taking a 10-minute nap,” says De La Torre. “Some parents don’t realize they can only drive 10 minutes around town.”
Establish a consistent routine
With so many brains and bodies changing on a daily basis, it’s no surprise that toddlers crave predictability. “Your routine can really include anything, as long as it’s repeated so your child knows what to expect,” says Tartaglia. Even at 5 and 8 years old, my children still have the same bedtime routine as they did when they were little—bathing, reading, and going to bed. ONE night light also soothes fear of the dark, and White noise drown out the sound of her talking on the phone to you as she runs down the stairs.
The overall goal is that you can put your toddler to bed the same way you would put a preschooler or elementary school student—with a hug, a goodnight kiss, and a walk out the door. No rocking to sleep, no snacks at endless night, or lying there for hours, staring up at the ceiling. To get there, you often want to keep your response consistent with nighttime interruptions. Tartaglia said: “Don’t say once, ‘Go back to bed, it’s okay,’ and the next time, ‘Get in bed with me’. “It’s sending mixed messages to your child.”
