Swaddle your baby

Most babies like to be wrapped securely. It reminds them of their snug womb. And of course they love slings.

Sleeping

Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 12 hours per night, but there’s no reason to be completely rigid about which 10 to 12 hours they are. A 5-year-old who gets adequate rest at night no longer needs a daytime nap.

Sleeping

From ages 1 to 3, most toddlers sleep about 10 to 13 hours.

Moving to a toddler bed

Once your child is able to climb out of his crib, it is time to move him into a toddler bed.

Hungry Toddlers

If your child is well-rested but is beginning to act up more than usual, make sure it hasn’t been too long since his or her last meal or snack. Your toddler may be hungry without realizing it, and if this is the case, a healthy snack may be all that is needed.

When it’s time for a toddler bed

Once your toddler is climbing out of his crib, it is usually time to move to a toddler bed.
From: About.com: Pediatrics

Lullabies

Sing a Lullaby – The long loved lullaby does just that, it helps lull babies and toddlers to sleep.
From: Mommyscape.com

Getting schedules back in order

As summer ends so does your child’s freedom to sleep in and eat erratically. Ease him back into a school schedule by shifting his bedtime back to a school-day bedtime and waking him closer to the hour he’ll need to rise. Also start serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks a few weeks before classes begin on a school schedule to help his appetite adjust.
From: Scholastic Parents

Light is good

Expose your baby to about 30 minutes of light each morning. Why? Light suppresses the release of the sleep hormone melatonin; this helps set her internal clock — making it easier for her to fall asleep at night.

The importance of sleep for pre-schoolers

Preschoolers may resist bedtime, but without sufficient sleep, three to five year olds simply do not have the resourcefulness to cope with the demands of their day.

From: YourParentingsSolutions.com

Easing nightmares in children

There’s very little a parent can do to ease nightmares except to try to make every day as peaceful and happy as possible.

Listen and reassure when these scary dreams occur. Consider consulting a doctor for night terrors.

From: xomba.com.

Tags: , ,

Night Terrors

Night terrors happen during deep non-REM sleep. Unlike nightmares (which occur during REM sleep), a night terror is not technically a dream, but more like a sudden reaction of fear that happens during the transition from one sleep phase to another.
From: KidsHealth.org

Nighttime bath

A night bath is a great toddler sleeping tip to soothe your child before bedtime. This relaxes his tired muscles and helps him sleep better. source

Sleep Aid

A sound machine can can help with toddler sleep. source

When to get a bed

It’s recommended that your toddler has reached a height of three feet tall before moving to a big boy bed. source

Reducing TV

Reduce television time before bedtimes. Television has a way of interfering with healthy sleep even for adults source

Affecting good sleep

Teething, dreams, nightmares, night terrors or separation anxiety can all affect the quality of a toddler’s sleep. source

Preping for sleep

Where child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make sure mattress is comfortable, blankets are warm, the room temp is right source

Exercise and sleep

Too much TV watching & lack of activity prevents good sleep. Kids who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly. source

Bedtime battles

The best way to combat bedtime battles or stalling is to implement a rock-solid bedtime routine that you never deviate from source