Toddlers. They are adorable and frustrating all in one go right? Especially if they are having problems with their sleep. They need sleep to function, to be happy and settled. Why don’t they realize that? However a lot of the time when a toddler is having difficulty with their sleep it’s normally something easy to resolve.
As a parent, we want to ensure that our little ones get the best possible sleep at night. If they sleep, we sleep, right? However, there are so many reasons as to why your little one might not settle. There may be sleep habits you need to combat, reasons they may not enjoy it or relax, or generally, a few changes that you can make. With that in mind, here are a few of the most common toddler sleep problems and a few secrets to help you combat them.
Your toddler won’t nap
You know they still need that time during the day. They always sleep much better at night when they have had one. But yet your little one won’t go down for their nap in the day anymore. There could be a few different reasons for this. They may be overstimulated, or had too much TV or Screen time on a tablet. It could be that they have not used up energy throughout the day and are still hyper. The way to try and resolve this would be to establish a little nap time routine. It could be a less time-consuming version of bedtime such as reading a story and having a cuddle. It’s also worth trying to stick to a regular time and consistency is the key. The more you try to keep consistent with it, the easier it will become and from part of a new habit and routine that you create.
Your toddler is getting too big for his cot
It’s inevitable that our little ones will grow and soon be out of the cot and ready for a toddler bed or something a little different This can be quite a daunting time and can unsettle their sleep. The way to do this smoothly is by a gradual process. One of the first things to do would be to find the right sort of bed and bedroom furniture, this is when you could click here for some inspiration. Then when you get to the stage of letting them sleep in there again, first allow them to spend nap times in it, and the bedtime routine. Making a slow transition into the “big boy” or ‘big girl’s” bed. Being in the bed instead of a cot will help with their sleep as they have more space to get comfortable.
My toddler is over-stimulated and won’t settle.
Everything is new and exciting for toddlers, so it’s no surprise that they can get overstimulated easily. Just meeting a new person or being out for the day can cause it. Although you can’t predict when it will happen there are few things to remember to try and avoid overstimulation. Alternating the type of play between something stimulating and quiet time can help your toddler to relax throughout the day. It’s also worth establishing a consistent routine and even a naptime if they need it. Consistency is always the key as unpredictable days from one extreme to another can have a stimulating effect on your little one. However, you can’t always avoid overstimulation at night, so a decent bedtime routine can help to calm the situation. Starting it early and slowing down the process can be a great tip to consider.
If they go to bed later, will the sleep in later?
The thought process behind it makes total sense. Later to be, later to get up but this is not the case. Like us, toddlers have that natural wake up point. An overtired child will never settle as easy, and it could cause more problems in the long run. Of course, there are ways to combat an early riser. Things like explaining about light and dark. Dark is nighttime; light is morning. Also, if you hear your toddler wake try and leave them for a little way. They may have a whinge or cry but quite often they will settle back to sleep for a little while. Of course, if they sound upset, then go to them.
Let’s hope some of these secrets will help you combat some toddler sleep problems. Please note that this is a post written on experience and any persistent problems should be checked by a doctor.
