Once asleep, most toddlers sleep through most nights without waking mum or dad. Getting toddlers to go to bed could be a lot of work sometimes.
Young children also get overtired easily. When they do, they find it harder to get to sleep. Spot your child’s signs of tiredness first and it will be much easier to help him or sleep before grumpiness sets in.
What is a toddler’s sleep schedule?
A common daily sleep schedule for toddlers might look like this:
7 am: wake up
1 pm: nap of no more than 2 hours
3 pm: wake up
7 pm: bedtime.
If your toddler’s day nap is too long or too late in the day, your child might not be ready for bed until late at night. A consistent bedtime routine helps prepare toddlers for sleep.
It is important to get your toddler ready for bed between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. This is a good time because they sleep deepest between 8 pm and midnight. It’s important to keep the routine consistent on weekends as well as during the week. A bedtime routine might look something like this:
6.30 pm: brush teeth and change nappy
6.45 pm: quiet time (read a book or tell a story)
7 pm: into bed and kiss goodnight.
Before you turn out the light, it’s a good idea to do a quick check of your child’s room to make sure her sleeping environment is safe.
If your child takes a dummy to bed, you might consider encouraging him to let go of the dummy.
Things to avoid before sending your child to bed
Taking a bottle of milk to bed isn’t a good idea either, because it can cause tooth decay and lead to more problems with sleep. It’s better for your child to finish her milk at least 30 minutes before going to bed.
Avoid boisterous play before bedtime. This can make it harder for your child to settle.
Avoid letting your child watch scary or exciting things close to bedtime.