Tips To Help Your Child Fall Asleep Faster
- by WONDERMOM
- Jan. 14, 2023
Toddlers need to get enough sleep-in order to meet the developmental obstacles that they face throughout their life. These problems range from being able to regulate their anger on the playground to being able to maintain control of their own physiological processes. Even the emotional strain of having to say goodbye to Mom and Dad when the babysitter arrives is something that a well-rested child is better equipped to deal with than one who is exhausted.
The fact that young humans seem to be intended to sleep with other humans adds a layer of complexity to the situation. It’s possible that you’ll have a better night’s sleep if you move your toddler to another room, but your child will inherently feel safer when you’re there with them.
The good news is that being able to fall asleep on one’s own is a habit that can be learned by any child. Although some children have a more difficult time falling asleep than others, it is possible for all children to learn to fall asleep on their own and sleep through the night without the assistance of a parent.
1. Get the process of winding down started early in the evening.
When it’s time for bed, toddlers who have been running about all day can’t just stop what they’re doing and relax when you tell them it’s bedtime. The last few hours before going to bed need to be peaceful and silent.
2. If at all feasible, stick to the same evening routine every single night.
You want to achieve a feeling of serenity and safety in spite of the uncertainty. An example of a common and successful bedtime routine includes the following steps: dinner, followed by a bath, followed by stories, followed by kissing and tucking in all of the stuffed animals who share the toddler’s bed, followed by prayers or blessings, followed by lights out while you sing to your little one.
3. Assist your young child in establishing his internal clock.
Toddlers need to have a consistent bedtime every night so that their bodies may learn to anticipate sleep. Early bedtimes, between 6:30 and 8:00 pm, are recommended for the majority of toddlers. You may assume that delaying their bedtime would make it simpler for them to nod off, but in reality, staying up longer causes them to become overtired, at which point their stress chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, kick in to keep them going. The result of this is that they have a more difficult time getting to sleep, wake up more often during the night, and frequently get up earlier in the morning.
4. Make a warm and inviting bed
Every kid goes through the typical stages of sleep, during which they sometimes wake up for a short period of time before falling back to sleep. During those times when your kid is just slightly awake, your first concern should be to make sure that your child is not in any pain. The use of blackout drapes or shades may be really helpful, particularly during the warmer months of the year when your child will be retiring to bed when it is still bright outside. Warmth is also important, so if your child is kicking off their blankets throughout the night, make sure they are wearing warm pajamas that have feet.
5. Many preschoolers need a snack before bed in order to make it through the night.
The most effective remedy is lukewarm milk, a slice of bread, or anything else that is comforting and predictable, not very exciting, and devoid of sugar. If they still need to be nursed to sleep or fall asleep with a bottle, you’ll want to break that link as soon as possible so that your kid will be able to go back to sleep on their own if they wake up in the middle of the night.