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Stop Toddler Bedtime Battles
Kids this age are learning that they have some power in the world, and they'll seize any opportunity to use it. So don't be surprised if your mini Trump says just about anything to stall his bedtime -- even if he's about to fall asleep mid-sentence.
Rest easier by... making small tweaks to your child's bedtime routine. You should still stick to the basics -- a bath, a story, some cuddling, then lights-out -- but let him make small decisions along the way, suggests Jill Spivack, cocreator of the book and DVD The Sleepeasy Solution. Your toddler may be less likely to balk at bedtime if he gets to call a few of the shots. (Red or yellow pj's? Three good-night kisses or four?)
If he cries when you leave his room, explain that it's time to sleep and say that you'll be back to check on him when he's calm, says Brett Kuhn, PhD, a licensed psychologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children's Sleep Center, in Omaha. Return, as promised, but don't stick around. Or try mom Gina Beltrami's clever sleep strategy: After she tucked in her toddler, Sonny, she set a timer for five minutes. "I told him that I'd sit quietly at the foot of his bed until the timer went off, and then he had to rest by himself," says Beltrami, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. "Stalling problem solved!"
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we recently got my 17 month old a toddler bed... the problem after about an hour or two of sleep she gets up and runs over to us and wakes my husband and i up. she sleeps through the night in her playpen or a crib... whats the difference with the toddler bed? is it the being able to get up at any time? any suggestions to help her sleep better?
1/9/2012 04:53:05 PM Report AbuseI never gave my son a pacifier, He's 17 months old and he knows when it's time to go to sleep. I just turn off all the lights and turn my back on him. Within 5 minutes he sings himself to sleep and sleeps all night. Im usually up way before him, so I let him sleep in.
12/28/2011 06:01:08 PM Report AbuseMy grandson stays up till 9:30 or 10:00 every night. He wakes up at 5AM with kicking the crib then the Mommy sing song, so no one can sleep unless my daughter gets up with him. He takes a afernoon nap like the girls did, what can my exhausted daughter do? We are afraid to put him in a toddler bed for fear of where he would go. Thanks Grandma
11/17/2011 01:15:11 PM Report AbuseHow do you put a 22 month old to bed when they are not in a crib. I end up staying with him until he falls asleep otherwise he just follows me. It takes up to an hour sometimes. I don't talk or play with him, only sing "hush little baby" which is our go to sleep song. Any suggestions?
6/7/2011 09:43:06 AM Report AbuseMy son use to go to bed without any problems, then all the sudden he was afraid to sleep in his own room. I tried everything nothing worked!In October I heard this guy on my local radio station talking about a book he wrote cuz he was having the same problem wiht his child.I bought one, and slowly but surely it has helped me get my son to go to sleep in his bed! The book is so cute,the guy illustrated it too.If anyone is intersted the book is called I sleep in my own bed, by Glenn Wright.
1/7/2011 10:40:10 PM Report AbuseMy daughter is 20 months old. I lay with her in my bed and when she falls asleep I will move her to her own bed, around 3am every night she wakes up crying and wont stop until i either put her in my bed or rock her back to sleep!! How can i help her make it through the night???
11/27/2010 09:31:08 PM Report AbuseMy daughter doesn't walk to my bed, she just starts playing with her toys. How do I keep her in her bed?
11/16/2010 11:33:52 AM Report AbuseMy 18-month old has been waking up every night for the past month, wanting his cup or just to lay in the bed with us. If he is cranky, the only thing to calm him is the t.v. tuned in to his favorite station, Sprout. What can I do to regain a sane household, and make sure my husband makes it to work at his scheduled time of 5:00 a.m.? The lack of sleep makes it hard for EVERYONE, including the other children!
11/3/2010 09:52:41 AM Report AbuseI dont know what else to try on my 22 month daughter. the routine didnt work i have been trying for almost a month and failure to go to sleep at 8pm. also she is a very picky eater, she wont drink all her milk ahh is frustrating. and her doctor has no help for me either!!
9/28/2010 03:21:42 PM Report AbuseTo Shaminak I am not an expert but my daughter is three and a half she is slowly losing the lustreous appeal of the pacifier in her mouth and doesn't cry w/out it use a teething ring cold for him and put him down at 8:30 pm w/out fail turn off the lights kiss her and I usually read two stories together. She sleeps real cozy with little or no blankets. I always Make sure no water or milk after 8:30 pm I hope you try a little cool air in his room and maybe a fan above.and kids melodies work well.
8/11/2010 04:04:48 PM Report AbuseIs it possible that your son is overtired? Kids wake up often when overtired. A relatively easy fix is an earlier bedtime for a day or two (from "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". he's also old enough to know that when he wakes up you'll come and get him, so a a few nights of not going to him and he'll learn that he needs to put himself back to sleep. Good luck! Sleep issues are so stressful!
7/20/2010 11:50:32 AM Report Abusemy baby girl sleep like a angel,she like's her's pink blanket,tha she only used to napp and to go night night!we pray,sing and kiss,and she sleep til next morning!
6/1/2010 04:37:18 PM Report AbuseBest book: "Good Night, Sleep Tight" by Kim West. Helps w/sleep problems from birth- age 5. Get him a stuffed animal whose tummy lights up for 2 mins. when you press it, and put 3-4 pacifiers in crib so he learns to find one on his own. Don't run in when he starts crying- give him 3 mins to settle himself down. Use "white noise" instead of music- run a fan, humidifier, etc. in his room.
3/23/2010 08:24:11 PM Report AbuseOur son is 1 1/2 and he wakes up every 2 hrs and we end up bringing him to bed with us. I do not know why and what can i do? he also uses a pasafier and when he realises thas he no longer have it he screams and we have to turn lights on to find it and put it back in his mouth every nigth the same what can we do?
3/9/2010 08:44:02 PM Report Abuse