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Anyone with a child under the age of five can attest to the fact that once you have a baby, sleep – which was once taken for granted – becomes your most cherished commodity.

Although as your child grows up, their sleeping requirements and patterns will undoubtedly change, and this can be incredibly taxing on mothers.

Most toddlers need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night, along with one or two naps during the day that last around 1-2 hours. If, for whatever reason, they aren’t meeting this requirement, it can be a frustrating experience for the both of you.

Whether your toddler wakes up too early, during the night or has trouble getting to sleep, here are some tips to help you manage both yours and your toddler’s sleep.

1) Write up a sleep schedule

Having a routine will ensure that your child won’t become overtired during the day and in turn will be prepared to sleep at night.

An example schedule:

  • 7am: wake up.
  • 12:30pm: nap of no less than one hour, and no more than 2 hours.
  • 1:30/2:30pm: wake up from nap.
  • 7pm: bedtime.

2) Set a bedtime routine

Similarly, a bedtime routine will help prepare your child for sleep. Toddlers love routines because the predictability of what is coming next makes them feel safe and secure – and this is especially pertinent at nighttime, where calmness is the key ingredient to a peaceful toddler sleep. A bedtime routine should last for no longer than an hour, from the bath to the final goodnight kiss.

An example routine:

  • 6pm: bath time, brush teeth and put on nighttime nappy.
  • 6:30pm: bedtime story, or listening to lullabies.
  • 7pm: kiss goodnight, and lights out.

3) Watch for signs of tiredness:

Children can become hyperactive when they are overtired. Recognising when your child is ready for bed can prevent them from becoming too tired, and make it easier for them to settle down and go to sleep. The signs over tiredness are:

  • clumsiness
  • irritable behavior
  • crying
  • clinginess
  • demands for attention all the time
  • boredom with toys
  • fussiness with food

4) Keep the room dark and make sure they are in a comfortable environment:

While it’s true that every child is different, most toddlers start the day early. While some are happy to look at a book, or quietly play with a toy, others will wake with an energetic bang. This is in part because of their early bedtime, and also because their deepest sleep happens between 8pm and midnight, so by 6am they may feel quite alert. Keeping the room dark with black out blinds helps reduce the stimulation around them and can help calm your toddler so that they will sleep longer.

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  • Routines are very important. Kids actually feel comforted by routines and knowing what comes next.

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  • No problems with the sleep routines here

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  • I agree routine is very important but I remember some days/ nights it was impossible to keep to the routine so you just had to go with the flow
    I suppose just stick to it as much as possible is the go ????

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  • Once I completed an overnight stay in a sleep unit, we became tough and determined to have our child sleep. We were really strict about a routine, and managing the sleep space. We finally got it sorted and stuck to it pretty much strictly. If my hubby was at the bedroom door about to enter, I would tell him to back away from the door! It took a long time, a lot of mental strength and toughness, but we got there eventually.

    Reply

  • tried it all with mine but they sleep when i can get them to stop

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  • A routine is extremely important, cheers.

    Reply

  • Stick to your routine and the bubs will eventually settle. A lovely warm bath seems to put them to sleep for a little longer than normal.

    Reply

  • Persistence with the routine. It does work, eventually.

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  • Wonderful article with great tips. Routines really do help.

    Reply

  • I’m lucky that I had no trouble with my boys and reading these tips I was already doing half of them. Hopefully this will help a lot of new Mums.

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  • Great tips.
    I’ve always been for a good day and night routine, although I never wrote it down (for any of my kids).
    My 3 year old sleeps from 7pm till 6am and has a nap from 11am till 2pm.

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  • Thanks for the tips.

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  • Thanks for the tips, I am working on a routine with my youngest now. Didn’t have any trouble with my elder one, but the younger one seem bit difficult as she don’t like to stick to routine.

    Reply

  • My baby has started sleeping in the dark room now

    Reply

  • Recognising the signs of tiredness and putting baby to sleep sooner than later is always the best tip

    Reply

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