Toddler Sleep Hacks

Toddlers – the sweetest age and one of the hardest age… 

Tons of growing and exploring, talking and bursts of growth. When they want something – they want it and when they don’t they let us know.

I loved the 2 yr old stage with each of my kids but it was hard.

Toddlers grow in so many ways and parenting them with love AND patience can be really difficult some days. It is important at this age to remember that they are still so little and need a lot of support from us.

When they are struggling, they need us to stay kind and firm and lovingly help them navigate this big world, their big emotions and their new desires.

There is nothing like lack of sleep or 2 yr old throwing a tantrum at bedtime that can raise a mom’s blood pressure.

If that happens for you – here is my best advice-  take 5 deep breaths and just wait a few minutes to respond.

Then when you are ready think through these 4 Tips you can use to help your 2 yr old get better sleep:

1. If possible keep your child in a crib until 2.5 yrs old. It is usually around this age that they can understand “stay in your bed”.
2. Give your toddler a consistent bedtime routine. Keep things in the same order every night – including how many songs and books you do! Build in a little extra time to account for their slowness and their need for connection with you as they close down their day!
3. Around 2.5 yrs old children start resisting their naps. Something clicks and they realize they don’t have to sleep and they want to be with others. Keep doing a quiet time at the least and use a back up nap option if needed to avert a major melt down (stroller, intentional car ride). The napping will come back after they pass through this stage (typically a month).
4. If your 2 yr old is getting more demanding or fussy at bedtime or at a night wake up it is often a sign that they are overtired. Try to bump bedtime back earlier and if needed gently teach them how to self soothe to sleep so they can do that at bedtime and at the middle of the night wakings.

Questions about any of that or wonder what is going on with your 2 yr old?