For children to have a healthy sleep schedule, they need to have sufficient sleep every night. Without enough sleep, a toddler cannot function in a manner that allows them to be happy and content all day.
Additionally, without enough sleep, an adult will have a difficult time being productive in their social and work life. Creating a bedtime routine is by far one of the best things you can do to ensure your child gets enough rest at night.
Some children need more sleep than others do, but there are effective techniques you can use to make sure your toddler gets enough rest. These routines encourage a child to understand what is expected of them before going to bed and provide your child with comfort from the familiarity of the routine.
Strictly Adhere to the bedtimes and wake up times
Toddlers, like most kids, want consistency. Their minds are still developing, and they need to know what is going on in their toddler world. When you change a schedule, even a minor one, the sudden change may disrupt sleep patterns.
This is especially true if a toddler sleeps through the night for a while and you decide to try something new with their schedule. A schedule change can cause stress in your toddler, making it more challenging to get them to sleep at night.
The most important thing with any sleeping schedule is consistency. If your toddler is used to waking up at 6:30 am Monday, do not let them lay on Snuzpod baby bed on Tuesday morning. This will only make it extremely difficult for them to return to their normal schedule.
Observe silence in the bedroom
Observing silence in the room will help your child to sleep well. You may find it convenient to play soothing music or soft seaside sounds to help your child fall asleep. This helps your tot relax and drift off into the land of nod.
Make sure that you observe silence in the hour that precedes bedtime as well as during sleep time; this will give your child a chance to unwind and prepare for restful slumber.
Ward off overtiredness by minimizing stimulation to the child. Turn off the television, avoid too much phone or computer use, and do not allow activities that are likely to increase excitement or stimulation before bedtime. Let them have a bath before going to bed.
Limit food and drink
Feeding your baby or toddler a solid or semi-solid snack within an hour before bedtime will make a big difference in his ability to sleep through the night. The first-time pregnancy mother needs plenty of solid food and a well-balanced diet to provide her milk for optimum nutrition.
While you don’t want to make a habit of serving your toddler milk and cookies before bed, a small glass of milk and a few cookies (without chocolate) several hours before bedtime could help wear your child out and contribute to your child sleeping through the night.
Always remove unhealthy sleeping props
If your preschooler takes a nightly rocking ritual to sleep, you could be contributing to the problem. Sleep experts rarely recommend rock for putting kids to sleep.
It can harm their natural ability to fall asleep independently, which is often the only way for them to learn how to stay in bed all night long.
Conclusion
Getting toddlers to sleep through the night can be difficult for many families. However, understanding your child and their developmental stage can help you develop a plan that works best for your child and family. Hopefully, some of the tips we’ve outlined here will give parents the tools they need to get their toddlers sleeping peacefully without having to rely on medication.
About the Author
Caroline is a writer with years of experience in business administration. She is passionate about travelling, exploring new places and cultures, and learning new languages. Find Caroline on Twitter @BCarolinebird12.