Toddlers' Health
Your toddler is becoming more and more aware of the world around him and wants to explore everything, and that can make putting him to bed difficult. There could be any number of things making it tough for your little one to fall asleep. Here are some ideas from KidsHealth about why kids don’t sleep and how you and your toddler both can get the rest you need.
How Much Sleep Is Enough?
Experts say that you’re really the best judge of how much sleep your toddler needs, but generally most kids between the ages of 1 and 2 require about 10 to 13 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Whether the hours are all at night or at intervals during the day is up to the parent and child.
Some kids need down time during the day—such as a nap, quiet playing, or listening to a story. If children nap during the day, though, they may be less likely to sleep soundly the whole night through.
You may need several weeks to experiment and observe before you find the right combination to give your toddler enough rest. Finding the right combination is important because it can mean the difference between a child who is happy or difficult.
Is Your Toddler’s Room Keeping Him Awake?
Toddlers will wake up for a number of reasons. Consider your toddler’s room from a little person’s perspective as well as your own. Could you sleep in there? Why or why not?
Here are some things to be aware of that may be disturbing your child’s sleep:
- discomfort, such as an illness or teething pain
- dreams and nightmares
- growing imagination
- mild separation anxiety
- too cold or too hot
- too much noise in other parts of the house
If you’re concerned about your toddler’s sleep patterns, talk with his or her pediatrician. As illnesses should be reported to the doctor, so should recurring nightmares or other sleep problems.
Toddler Sleep Tips
Establishing a bedtime routine can go a long way toward helping your child make the transition from an active day to a restful night. Try a few different routines until you find what works for your child. Here are some proven approaches that may help get your child into bed and resting peacefully:
- warm bath
- back rub
- bedtime story
- keeping curtains or blinds closed
- making nighttime visits brief
- putting safe toys in the crib during the night to occupy him or her in the morning
| Getting E-Zzz’s
The quality and quantity of your sleep can make all the difference in how productive you'll be the next day, but parental responsibilities can keep you from getting all the sleep you need. Even though you may not be able to get all the hours, you can still make sure that you get the best possible quality sleep. Here are tips from the Better Sleep Council.
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Sources: bettersleep.org, kidshealth.org
DID YOU KNOW?
Too much activity close to bedtime can make it more difficult for your toddler to fall asleep. Make after-dinner playtime relaxing.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can disrupt your toddler’s sleep. Avoid giving your child anything containing caffeine less than six hour before bedtime. Choose nutritious after-dinner snacks and beverages that don’t contain caffeine.
Too much food just before bed can disrupt your toddler’s sleep. Avoid feeding your toddler a large meal within several hours of bedtime.
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