A toddler who wakes in the night and needs help falling back asleep causes stress on everyone involved. Many possible factors influence your toddler's night time waking, from the bedroom environment to his day time activities. Identifying the cause of the sleep difficulties helps you address the matter so the entire family gets a solid night of sleep. Consult with your toddler's physician if he continues having difficulty sleeping or if his sleep patterns change drastically.
Step 1
Assess the sleeping environment in the room. The temperature, darkness and noise level of the room may interrupt her sleep. Add a white noise machine if sounds from other rooms wake your toddler. Dress your toddler in warm pajamas during colder months in case she kicks off her blanket. Consider a night light if your toddler is afraid of the dark.
Step 2
Let your toddler pick out a bedding set to make it more appealing. Most stores sell a variety of bedding sets, in both crib and twin sizes, decorated with kids' characters. Add a few favorite stuffed animals to the bed for familiarity and comfort.
Step 3
Turn off the television, computer and other noisy, engaging activities in the hour before bedtime. This helps your toddler calm down. She may also be more willing to go to bed if the rest of the family is engaging in calm activities rather than having fun without her.
Step 4
Establish a consistent, calming bedtime routine for your toddler to signal that bedtime is near. Bath time, books, lullabies and brushing teeth are often part of a toddler's bedtime routine. MayoClinic.com recommends following the exact same routine each night.
Step 5
Return your child to bed if he gets up during the night. Stay calm and avoid stimulation with lights or conversation. Calmly lead your toddler back to his bed as many times as he gets up until he falls back asleep.
Step 6
Wait to enter your toddler's room in the middle of the night if she calls out for you. She may fall back asleep herself. If she doesn't fall back asleep, quietly enter her room to provide her with reassurance that she is safe. The Kids Health website recommends keeping your time in her room to a minimum. Wait a little longer each night before entering her room.
Step 7
Install blackout curtains in your toddler's bedroom if he wakes as soon as the sun rises. Blocking out the light may enable him to sleep longer in the morning.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider your toddler's daytime napping if he has difficulty going to bed or staying asleep. Babycenter recommends waking your toddler if he naps too long. This ensures that he will be tired at bedtime.
