Getting a small child to sleep can be one of parenthood’s most difficult and frustrating tasks. While it might be frustrating for you, it’s likely to cause even more frustration for your little one if they can’t settle into a regular sleeping pattern.
If it’s something you are struggling with at the minute, don’t give up and certainly don’t give in to your child’s demands. Follow the steps below and you should find your child falling asleep in no time.
Create A Set Routine
This is probably the most important thing to consider when trying to tackle a troublesome toddler’s sleeping pattern. Make sure you are putting them to bed at the same time every night to help them fall into a consistent routine.
To help with this, create a whole bedtime routine that follows a similar pattern every night of the week. This involves feeding, bathing and reading a bedtime story to your child at the same time each night.
Also, factor in their naps throughout the day if your young child is still having them. Try to ensure that these are around the same time every day.
Tire Them Out
We all know the feeling of getting into bed after a long day or a tiring workout and falling asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. Apply this logic to your child’s sleep and try to tire them out before putting them to bed.
This could be as simple as playing with them in the evening or simply cuddling up with them on the sofa. You’ll also want to keep them away from screens and any other devices that could stimulate their little brains before bedtime.
Rearrange Your Nursery Room
If you are putting your child to sleep in a nursery room, consider how you could transform the room into a sleep sanctuary. Most nurseries double as playrooms which can cause babies to associate the room with activity and games which isn’t ideal when you want them to sleep.
If possible, keep your nursery room separate from your designated play space and consider how you can use nursery room accessories to promote a sleepy environment. Soft toys, cosy blankets and bedtime books can all help to make your child realise that this room is for sleeping.
Check Room Temperature and Lighting
Even adults struggle to sleep in a room that’s too hot or too cold. And is there anything worse than a bedroom that allows light to creep in while we’re trying to sleep? If this annoys us as adults, think how disruptive it can be for children.
Helping your young child to sleep could be as simple as installing a thermostat in their bedroom or nursery and adding black-out windows or blinds.
If you’ve tried all of the above and your child is still struggling to sleep, you may want to speak to an expert, join a parenting community or even speak to a medical professional if you think that the issue may be related to a health issue.
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