Getting a toddler to go to sleep at a particular time can be challenging. Just like babies, toddlers can be fussy when they're supposed to be sleeping. Toddlers can also be persistent with their screaming and crying. This is one of the reasons why getting toddlers into a regular sleep routine is important. A routine will make it easier for your toddler to fall asleep during the daytime and at night.
Step 1
Set a consistent napping schedule. The website KidsHealth says that most 1- to 2-year olds sleep up to 13 hours a day. Therefore, napping during the day is essential to restore her energy and prevent fussiness. If you set regular napping times and make her lie down to try to sleep at the same times every day, such as 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., she will eventually get used to the routine. This will also help her sleep better at night, because she will be tired at bedtime but not so tired that she falls asleep before dinner.
Step 2
Send your toddler to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends. Dr. Bill Sears, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, says that putting a toddler to sleep at the same time every night creates a routine in her mind and makes her more willing to sleep at the right time. If you allow her to stay up late on weekends, she could become overtired and start taking naps early, and her whole sleeping pattern could become altered.
Step 3
Avoid letting her sleep in more than one place. Wherever your child sleeps, she needs consistency, according to Dr. Sears. Letting her sleep in your bed some nights but then making her sleep alone on other nights will only confuse her. Giving her one designated sleeping place will reinforce the routine in her mind.
Step 4
Help your toddler go to sleep by creating a bedtime ritual. KidsHealth recommends doing the same things with your toddler before bed every night. Try comforting her to sleep by reading her a story or giving her a stuffed animal. You can also play soft music to make her sleepy. Whatever you do, make it the same thing. Even what she drinks before bedtime should be the same.
Things You'll Need
- Comfort items, such as books and stuffed animals
