Sleep Solutions for Toddlers

The Bedtime Battler

Why he does it: Toddlers melt down because they don't want the day to end, they want to spend more time with you, or they're overtired.

Winning strategy: Establish a strict bedtime and a nightly routine. And give your child a heads-up. Say, "After your bath, we'll brush your teeth, read a book, and then you'll go night-night." Don't let him push for extra time, even if he seems wide awake. "Some parents think, 'Well, he couldn't be tired, he's running around the room like a banshee,' " says Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., Parents advisor and author of Sleeping Through the Night. "But kids can become more active the more tired they are." Sticking to a schedule eases your child's transition, so that by the time you put him into the crib, he knows it's time to go to sleep.

Related Links