7 TIPS TO IMPROVE GETTING YOUR TODDLER TO BED by Lisa Lamb, Mother Fit Sleep Consultant

“It’s BEDTIME”, hearing these little words can push any little toddler into melt down city… It can cause much stress and frustration for so many parents of toddlers. Anyone who has parented toddlers knows that they are smart and determined to do things their own way.

My toddler loved going to her cot to sleep as a young baby and a young toddler, however when she turned 2 years old the transition to bedtime become difficult, my toddler found a voice and decided she didn’t want to go to bed anymore!

Who can blame her, staying up with mummy and daddy is way more fun than going to sleep! She is now 3 years old and even though she still tries to push the boundaries, being “Consistent” has helped our transition to bedtime run a lot more smoothly. I’ve got 7 tips to help you with this:

Keep your toddler in their cot for as long as possible, moving a young toddler from their cot to a bed too soon can cause more problems for them and you. In my professional opinion, keep your toddler in their cot as close to 3 as possible. If you toddler has started to climb out of their cot then unfortunately you don’t have a choice as their safety always comes first.

Tip 2:

Consistency is crucial for toddlers! Toddlers are born boundary pushes, give them an inch and they will take a mile… They cannot remember rules; however, they learn through repetition.

Tip 3:

Create a calm and cosy bedtime routine and sleep environment. Set the bedtime boundaries which can include rewards. A consistent bedtime routine helps your toddler to transition from the day to their night-time sleep.

It is important for your toddler to have 15-20 minutes of one-to-one time with one parent every day.

Tip 5:

We recommend 45-90 minutes of outside time and physical play every day. Children who get lots of exercise fall asleep more quickly, stay asleep longer, sleep better and wake up feeling nice and refreshed.

Tip 6:

Provide the right nutrition – carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, ideal bedtime snacks can include bagels, pea butter on whole wheat toast and oatmeal with bananas. Be aware that some foods that are high in protein or sugar generate alertness especially eaten alone.

Tip 7:

Invest into a Gro Clock, not only has this helped my own children to stay in her bed until it is morning time, it has also helped many of my toddler clients as well.

Getting your toddler to sleep and creating a smooth bedtime transition is difficult, it is not an overnight solution, it takes time to establish healthy sleep habits. If you feel you are ready to make changes to your toddler’s sleep get in touch with the Night Ninja today and let’s get bedtime running as smooth as it can be.