Getting your toddler to sleep through the night is difficult for some parents. While it might seem like other parents are managing fine, for most people, they will be challenges involved in getting their toddler to fall and stay asleep. Here are some suggestions which could help.
Choosing a bed
When choosing a kids first bed, it should be one they feel comfortable in. If they love the bed you buy for them, they'll be more likely to stay there at night. With choices such as the Bloc Starter Bed, or the Scallywag Single Bed, your child will feel safe and secure, thanks to the safety rails.
Calm before bed
Although it's important to stimulate your toddler's imagination, as bedtime approaches, try winding down their activities. Only let them play with toys that encourage calm and comfort like their favourite stuffed toy. Turn off the television and try playing calming music instead, on a low volume.
Your child will also start to recognise the signs that it's almost bedtime. This can become part of their routine as you prepare them for bed.
Eating too close to bedtime
You don't want to send your toddler to bed hungry, but don't send them to bed too soon after mealtimes either. Make sure you leave between 60 and ninety minutes between food and drink, and your toddler's bedtime. It's difficult to sleep on a full stomach, and this could be why they struggle.
Looking at other problems
If you've tried most things and your toddler still wakes up repeatedly during the night, there may be other problems that need to be dealt with.
This could be teething, which although you can do little to resolve, you can make this easier for your toddler with a teething ring. You can also change their diet to include foods that soothe the pain of teeth cutting through. This includes chilled or mashed puree baby foods, soft foods like yoghurts and mashed fruit, hummus and applesauce, scrambled egg and others.
Another problem could be noises keeping them awake. If this is from the television, try turning it down, or switching it off and reading instead. If the noises are from outside your home, such as people on their way home from a local pub, or a busy main road, you might consider double-glazed windows to block these out, or switching rooms if you can.
Are they scared of the dark?
If your toddler is scared of the dark, they may try to sleep in your bed after they wake during the night. While most of us wake several times, we quickly fall back to sleep, so barely notice. Fear of the dark will prevent your toddler from getting back to sleep therefore they might benefit from a night light.
Finding out the main causes of your toddler waking during the night can help you plan around bedtime and deal with the issues. It may take time, but it will be worth it when your toddler sleeps through the night.
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