Bedtime Rituals

Bedtime routines and rituals are a simple way of helping active and energetic toddlers wind down and prepare to go to bed. source

Controlling bedtime

Put a lamp on a timer & tell toddler that if lamp’s off it’s still night-time, and he needs to stay in bed until the lamp is on source

Naps and sleep

Good sleep promotes good sleep. Parents whose kids don’t sleep well at night mistakenly think it’s a good idea to give up naps source

Soothing Bedtime

Create a soothing bedtime ritual to help make bedtime as pleasant as possible by putting the children in a quiet, relaxed mood. source

Big boy beds

Contemplating the switch to a big-kid bed? Start talking about it 1-2 weeks before you plan to make the switch. source

Moving to a bed

A toddler will be ready to move to a ‘big girl’ bed between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. source

Sleep and a happy family

A study found that a troubled marriage when a baby is 9mos contributes to trouble sleeping when the child is 18mos. source

Sleep Problems

75% of children under five experience some kind of sleep problem. source

Reading & bedtime

Rather than saving reading for bedtime, rotate it with other ideas so toddler doesn’t only associate books with sleep. Source

sleep deprivation

Toddler sleep deprivation comes in many forms. The sooner you recognize the signs, the sooner you can help your tot to sleep more info

Napping tot

Infants sleep 16 to 20 hours per day, and as time goes on, they outgrow sleeping all day long and only take two naps more info

Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is an acceptable way for child to comfort himself, at bedtime – although it can lead to dental problems more info

When to get rid of the crib

When time to get rid of crib? When child asks for a bed or starts climbing out of crib. For most that comes between 2 & 3.

Food and Bedtime

Limit food and drink (especially any drinks containing caffeine) before bedtime. http://bit.ly/NMYqMX

Diet and sleeping

If you are breastfeeding, then it is also worth considering whether something in your diet could be contributing to poor nighttime sleep.

From: phdinparenting.com Opens in new window

Swaddling

Swaddle for the first three months. Research shows that infants who are swaddled wake up less and sleep longer than other babies.

From: parents.com Opens in new window

Good sleep promotes good sleep

A lot of parents whose children do not sleep well at night mistakenly think it would be a good idea for them to give up naps. Instead, parents should try to institute a consistent nap routine.

From: phdinparenting.com Opens in new window

Get into the routine

Thirty minutes to an hour before bedtime, start a calming ritual that may include giving a bath and reading a story or two.

From: parents.com Opens in new window

Falling asleep at night

Make sure your toddler falls asleep on her own at night. Once she’s mastered drifting off on her own during bedtime without your rocking, nursing, or lulling her to sleep, she’ll be able to do so during the day.

From: babycenter.com Opens in new window