Your toddler--a child aged one to three years old--has undergone vast amounts of development in his first stages of life. Many things change for him as he grows and develops new skills. Sleeping itself is a skill he has been developing. At this stage, he needs around 10 to 13 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, according to KidsHealth. A toddler can develop sleep difficulties for a number of reasons, but experts have recommendations for helping your toddler get a good night's sleep so you can, too.
Fears
According to William Sears, M.D. in "The Baby Sleep Book," your toddler has begun developing his imagination. As his imagination grows, this can lead to fears about what is lurking in the dark or in the closet, for example.
KidsHealth points out that dreams and nightmares may affect your child. His new imagination makes it difficult for him to distinguish reality from a dream. KidsHealth suggests avoiding scary or upsetting shows or books before bedtime.
Pain
Teething is a common cause for night waking among toddlers. Pain from teething can last from a week to a month. Dr. Sears points out that your child's two-year molars often mean your child will need extra comfort for one to two months. Fortunately, as far as sleep goes, the molars are the last of the teeth to come in until age six.
Thirst
During your toddler's infancy, he likely had nighttime feedings. Now that he has grown out of this stage, he may begin to notice the lack of fluids at night. Unless potty training, Dr. Sears recommends providing your toddler with a significant drink of water before bed and putting a sippy cup near her bed.
Developmental Stage
According to BabyCenter, your toddler may exhibit his budding independence by refusing going to bed. Asserting control over when he goes to bed is one way he demonstrates his independence from you.
Separation anxiety is another developmental issue that may be affecting your toddler at bedtime. Some toddlers may begin to experience a bout with separation anxiety between 18 months and 2 1/2 years old, according to KidsHealth. Life stresses like a new baby, moving or a change in childcare, can bring on separation anxiety as well.
Tips
BabyCenter recommends encouraging your child to fall asleep on his own. Let him know that if he stays in bed for five minutes, you will come back and check on him.
Your toddler may be the master of dawdling. It is important to stick with the rules, such as how many books you will allow or how long you will rub his back. Extending the time spent with him, or catering to too many requests, will only encourage his dawdling.
Provide a nighttime routine for your child. Once you have the routine set, stick to it more often than not. BabyCenter suggests you oblige only one "extra" request. By doing so, he feels he is getting his way, but ultimately you are getting yours, too. If he wakes in the middle of the night, keep nighttime visits brief and boring, according to KidsHealth.
BabyCenter suggests offering choices around bedtime, such as which pajamas he'd like to wear or asking, "Would you like to go to bed now or in five minutes?" Your toddler will appreciate the sense of control.
References
- BabyCenter: Bedtime Battles
- KidsHealth: Sleep and your 1- to 2- Year-Old
- "The Baby Sleep Book"; William Sears, Robert Sears, James Sears and Martha Sears; 2005
- KidsHealth: Separation Anxiety
