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Toddler Sleep Training - 7 Tips and Tricks
Navigate the world of toddler sleep training with ease! Tackling bedtime challenges can be tough, especially with energetic toddlers who prefer exploring over resting
Providing Quality Childcare Since 2012 • Infants, Toddlers & Preschool • Daycare Centre
Getting toddlers to sleep can often be challenging, especially when they want to stay up and explore. But a good night’s rest is essential for children’s growth, development and happiness, and in this article, we provide a few tips and tricks on how to get your energetic toddler to sleep.
How Do I Get My Two Year Old to Sleep Through the Night?
Each day is a new opportunity for your 2-year-old to explore the world around them, discover new textures, learn new things and gain new skills. No wonder they might become restless and refuse to go or stay in bed when the sun goes down. To help them fall asleep, you can:
Establish a bedtime routine
Small children need predictability to feel safe and secure. So routine is important for toddler sleep training:
- Prepare them a light dinner and a calming bath.
- Turn off all screens.
- Read a bedtime story or sing them a soothing song.
This prepares the little one for sleep and provides certainty about the events and tasks of each day.
Dim the lights in the child’s bedroom
The eyes of the children are more light-sensitive because their pupils are larger, and their lenses are more transparent than those of adults. This makes them more prone to sleep problems, so it’s important to keep lights low in their room by turning off all the screens, dimming the lamps and drawing the curtains to create an ambience without excessive light exposure. This stimulates the production of melatonin – the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycles, helping your toddler fall asleep easier.
Tuck him in
Tuck your little one into bed while they are still awake and spend some time talking affectionately to put their mind in a calm and relaxed state. Snuggle next to them and speak softly about the highlights of the day and some of the things they will do the next day.
Praise his successes and encourage him to try again in the endeavours he had not succeeded in. Sweet talk, kisses, and caresses are extraordinary ways to bond with your little ones and make them look forward to bedtime.
Step 1: Sit quietly in a chair next to your toddler’s bed.
Step 2: If the child cries, pick them up and cuddle them until they are calm again. Then, tuck the child back into bed.
Step 3: Wait to leave the room until the little one is deeply asleep.
Step 4: As your child cries less and less in the coming nights, move the chair further from the bed, closer to the door. After a couple of nights, when the crying fades, take the chair out of the bedroom and celebrate: you did it!
Try the transition method
If you move your toddler from your bed to theirs, you might need a transition method to help you succeed in getting them to sleep.
The steps to do that are:
- Put the little one into their bed;
- Place an air mattress in their bedroom and sleep there for a couple of nights;
- When your child feels at ease sleeping in their bed, replace the mattress with a chair and sit on it until they fall asleep;
- After a few nights, leave the room immediately after you put your toddler to bed.
- If you hear them fuss, wait 5 minutes before opening the door to their bedroom and say, without entering the room, reassuring words like “I love you, but it’s time to sleep”.
Is it OK to let a toddler cry to sleep?
The short answer to this question is: it depends. It depends on whether you feel comfortable with a toddler sleep training method that involves crying.
Cry it out method
Also known as the “cry it out method“, the Ferber method often encounters resistance from toddlers, so be prepared for that.
The steps are:
Step 1:
After the bedtime routine:
- Put the child into bed.
- Say “goodnight”.
- Leave the room even if they begin to protest or cry.
Step 2:
Wait 3 minutes before popping your head into the room to ensure they are alright and can see you there. Briefly say you love him, that it’s time to sleep and then close the bedroom door again. Don’t enter the room, and don’t spend more time speaking to your toddler because this might make him think you will return and stay for good if he cries loud and long enough.
Step 3:
If the child keeps crying, repeat the process after 5 minutes, after 10 and 15 minutes. Then, pop your head in the room every 15 minutes until they are asleep.
If this method makes you feel uncomfortable, try the instant return technique.
Instant return method
Although exhausting to some extent, this method of toddler sleep training is efficient and makes you feel at ease as it doesn’t involve crying.
Step 1:
Put the toddler to bed, give him some kisses and hugs and tell him it is time to sleep. Then, leave the room.
Step 2:
If the little one gets out of bed or starts crying, return to the room, put them back to bed, soothe them, say the phrases used before calmly and then leave the room again.
Step 3:
Repeat step 2 as many times as needed. After a few nights, your toddler will grow tired and fall asleep as they will no longer have the energy to climb down from bed or protest time and time again.
Toddler sleep training is challenging, especially with children who resist, have tantrums or refuse to comply with the sleep routine. But you can find the method that best suits your child’s age, personality and disposition. You will make it work if you stay consistent and determined. And even if sometimes you feel exhausted or ready to give up, we are confident you will succeed!
Take a look at our article “What Do You Need for the First Day of Daycare” for tips on how to help your toddler settle for sleep when starting at daycare.
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Our early childhood centre environments strongly reflects our inspiration – The Reggio Emilia philosophy, from Reggio Emilia, Italy.
We provide a creative and open ended environment that encourages infinite learning for the children and strong relationships between teachers, children and families.
The day’s routines are flexible. At the same time, care is taken to recognise and respect each child’s needs.
Why Choose a Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre?
- Encouraging the use of natural materials
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We are so happy that our son is a part of the Bright Beginnings family. The staff have been so welcoming and caring since the day he joined here. He has the freedom to explore and experiment as he learns about the world around him. With each passing day, he is growing into a confident and independent young boy, while building friendships and learning important life skills. We are also especially happy that he gets nutritious meals everyday, an important concern for us as parents. Most importantly, he loves it so much here that he can't wait to be back at the Centre every morning! As parents, we can go about our day with the assurance that our son is in good hands within a safe environment. Thank you to the entire BBELC team for that, Devika.
Bright Beginnings has and is a second home to both my son and now my daughter. Amber loves coming to the centre everyday and to see the relationship she has with the teachers is very special. We love everything Bright Beginnings embodies and are thankful to have found this centre.
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THANK YOU for helping my kids explore new things. You are all amazing. Like what I always say to the teacher, I don't know how you all do it but the teachers here at BBELC are SUPERHEROES! As parents we feel your passion, dedication and love.
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