Sleep for Toddlers

Sleep for Toddlers

            One of the most important health topics I have wanted to cover is sleep for toddlers.  It can make or break your household.  Every child’s sleeping patterns are different, and at this age some children begin to experience nightmares.  Others may be refusing their naps.  My best advice is to keep consistent and put a routine in place.

            Between ages one and three, children could sleep roughly around one to three hours less than they were as infants, according to webmd.  This could mean that your child may not want to take naps anymore because they are getting adequate sleep overnight.  As long as your child gets the recommended 12 to 14 hours of sleep per day, don’t stress naptime.  My daughter, Julia, has decided that she will only take one when she wants to.  When I allowed her to skip naps altogether, she is a grump all evening.  We have come to the conclusion that taking a time to rest during what used to be nap time helps her to be a little more cheerful.  I usually have her lay in her bed with a book or let her sing along with some music.  Our rule is that she must keep her head on the pillow and stay under the covers.  If she has been exceptionally well-behaved that day, I allow her to lie on the couch and watch TV.  She only skips her naps about once per week, but I am sure that this is the calm before the storm.

This is what happens around
dinnertime when Julia skips her naps

            It is extremely hard to get sleep for toddlers experiencing night terrors.  Julia began having nightmares around the time that we moved to our new house.  She was about 21-months-old.  Her pediatrician explained to me that she is at an age where many children develop nightmares for no particular reason at all, so it is hard to tell if the move was the cause of this or not.  There were a lot of changes: she went from sharing a bedroom with me at my parent’s house to having her own room, we moved to a completely different house, we no longer lived with my parents or younger sister, and my fiancé had moved in with us.  To help her cope with her nightmares, my fiancé, Patrick, sat down with Julia before bedtime one day and assured her that he would never let anything hurt her.  If she was afraid, all she had to do was yell for him, and he would come and sit with her until she felt better.  We also made sure there were no toys in the middle of the floor or anything that would cast strange shadows before bedtime every evening.  I think what helped her overcome her fears the most was her growing bond with Patrick.  They are like two peas in a pod.

Julia drifting off to sleep with her kitty, "Raven"
You can see the lip balm glaring on her lips

            Some parents report difficulty getting their child to fall asleep.  The only times I have ever encountered this is when we stray from our normal routine.  A normal routine allows the child to predict the coming events and know what is expected of them.  Follow through with your routine consistently.  Every night we put away the toys together and get ready for bed (Julia brushes her teeth, goes potty, takes a bubble bath, gets on her pajamas, and has her hair dried).  After that she goes out with Patrick, and they take their vitamins together.  Then she clambers up into her bed for a story or two.  After I read to her, I always sing her a lullaby.  It doesn’t have to sound great or be an elaborate song.  Your child will be happy to hear the ABC’s.  Singing makes children this age happy, and them being in a good mood is your prerogative.  I have sung James Taylor’s “Close Your Eyes” almost every night since moving to our new house.  Julia has even learnt it from hearing it so many times and often sings along.  After that Julia gets a nighttime lip balm, we exchange hugs and kisses, I turn on her nightlight and music, and we wish each other good night.  My daughter is OCD like me, and she will never let you forget it if anything is done out of order EVER.  She goes to bed in a good mood without any fussing as long as the equation is correct.

            If you’re having some difficulties getting your child to go to bed, ask yourself these questions.  “Is my toddler getting enough sleep?  Has something in their environment changed?  How can I make them trust that they are safe at night when they have had a nightmare?  Does my child have a set routine?”  When putting your child to sleep, tell them about what is planned for the next day.  Just try to make bedtime fun, and good luck with getting sleep for toddlers under control in your home.