How Do I Get My Toddler To Sleep Early?

Although it won’t happen overnight, getting your toddler to sleep early requires a lot of patience and consistency, just like with everything else in parenting.  Getting a toddler to sleep early each night is one of the parents’ top concerns when it comes to kids and sleep. At some point, almost all parents have struggled to get their toddlers to sleep early, and for many parents, bedtime is a waking nightmare. 

It seems paradoxical that children need considerably more sleep than adults do, but many of them struggle to fall asleep. Parents and kids may feel stressed out as a result, and everyone in the family may have trouble getting a good night’s rest.

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How then do you put your toddler to sleep early at night? More importantly, how can you consistently get them to go to bed? Sometimes a warm bath with a natural body wash that has a mild and natural, yet wonderful fragrance like the BabyChakra Moisturizing Baby Wash, can work like magic to soothe a toddler. Here are a couple of other tips to help you get your toddler to sleep early:

How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?

It’s important to understand how much sleep a toddler needs per night. Research has proven, children of school age require between 9 and 12 hours of sleep per night.

• Infants under 1 year need a minimum of 12-16 hours of sleep per night.
• Children 1-2 years old need around 11-14 hours of sleep per night.
• Children 3-5 years old need around 10-13 hours of sleep per night.
• Children 6-12 years old need 9-12 hours of sleep per night.

4 Tips To Help A Toddler To Sleep Early

1. Decide on a bedtime:

Since there is a lot of variation in sleep patterns and demands, no matter what you do, most kids have predictable habits. Even if you put late sleepers to bed, morning people will still get up early, and night owls won’t go to sleep until their systems are ready.

2. Establish a nighttime routine:

Setting up a bedtime routine for kids can make it less stressful for parents and kids alike. Kids need structure because it makes them feel safe and secure, and they thrive on it. Establishing a regular bedtime routine for your child can help them create sleep associations that will help them get ready for bed.

It’s a good idea to start the wind-down phase of the evening ritual 15 to 30 minutes before the main night routine starts. This may entail turning off the TV, listening to soothing music, lowering the lights, speaking more softly, and even moving more slowly. Your toddler will recognise all of these minute adjustments as indicators that bedtime is drawing near.

3. Turn off screens at least two hours before bedtime:

An essential component of the sleep-wake cycle is melatonin. The majority of people are sleepy and prepared for bed when melatonin levels are at their greatest.

According to research, blue light from a phone, computer, or television screen can hinder the production of the melatonin hormone. Before going to bed, avoid having your child spend an additional 30 to 60 minutes watching TV, playing computer games, or browsing the internet on a phone or computer.

Make sure all gadgets are turned off before night or make the bedroom a screen-free zone. Additionally, don’t bring your phone into your child’s room or keep it on mute when you are there.

4. Be alert for indications of sleep disturbances:

Your kid may have sleep issues if they still struggle to fall asleep despite your efforts to develop a regular bedtime routine and adapt it to meet each child’s unique needs. 

Keep a close check on your child’s daytime functioning as well as their sleeping habits and routines at night. The presence of behavioural issues at home or school, difficulty focusing on homework, or persistent daytime fatigue could be symptoms of an inherent sleep disturbance.

Consult your kid’s paediatrician about their sleeping patterns if you think your child could have a sleep disorder, or schedule a consultation with a medical professional.

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