Toddler Sleep Tips:
Night Light:
There is no need for a nightlight for your baby’s room prior to the age of 2 years old. Fear of the dark establishes around 2-2.5 years of age. If your toddler is showing signs of fear, I would recommend introducing a night light that is a warm tone like red or orange. The reason I recommend these colors is because they do not block the natural production of melatonin – The Sleep hormone which is produced in darkness.
Crib to Bed Transition:
When making the transition to a big bed, it is easier if you can wait for the cognitive leap that occurs after 2.5 years old. This is when a toddler can understand rules and expectations. They also begin to develop emotional understanding and impulse control.
Naps:
Naps are still very important all the way through to 2.5-3.5 years of age. As your child approaches 2.5-3, you may need to reduce the amount of day sleep your toddler is getting to ensure an age appropriate bedtime of 7pm.
Your Questions Answered:
Nichol asks:
“How do we get our two boys who sleep in the same big bed, to just fall back to sleep in their bed if they wake in the middle of the night between REM cycles? 95% of the time one or both make their way to our bed sometime between 2-5am”
Hi Nichol, that certainly is tough when they are both making a run for your room in the wee hours of the morning! If your little ones are 2.5 and over, I would encourage you to implement some rules and rewards into their routine, talk about what is expected of them and use a stamp/sticker chart to reward them. Once they have stayed in their beds 3 nights then do something fun and explain how proud you are of them. Make the reward achievable but not extravagant. I would also encourage a bell on their door or yours to return them to bed as soon as they come into your room. Children thrive with routine, understanding expectations and boundaries. It may be beneficial to use separate rooms while encouraging them to sleep through the night.
Michelle asks:
“How to get 3-year-old to fall asleep on his own, stay in his twin size bed all night and not wake up until 7am?’
Hi Michelle! 3 years old is a great age to teach your son to stay in his bed and self soothe, with this age I recommend rules and rewards as mentioned in the answer above, role play with a toy (not one that he sleeps with) about what you want from him is also extremely beneficial, tell him to tuck in his toy at bedtime and when his toy sleeps all night then his toy gets a sticker/stamp – Kids love seeing this and soon begin to understand what they need to do to get one! It is also dependent on a few other aspects, age appropriate bedtime of 7pm and if he is still napping, I would encourage you to cap this nap to 45 minutes to ensure he is tired enough to go to sleep
It is never too late to implement these tips into your child’s daily schedule, if you would like more information or could benefit from a personalized plan and full support, please do not hesitate to contact me! I offer free, no obligation 15-minute phone consultations to help you on your way to a better night’s sleep! I look forward to helping the whole family rest easy!
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