I’m Dr. Harvey Karp, a physician and the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block, both best sellers. My entire professional life has been devoted to giving parents the resources they require so they may support their children as they sleep—and do it securely.
Have a boisterous child who sabotages bedtime? It’s not just you! Toddlers frequently object to the concept of stopping all of their playing, learning, and exploring for the dreaded night. They would much rather remain up and check on your activities. At the same time, it’s common for infants to experience moments of anxiety, suddenly fearing the dark or being alone themselves in their room. Whatever is preventing your child from falling asleep, use these toddler sleep training strategies to help them get the rest they need.
Toddlers enjoy routine and order. Establishing a regular, soothing sleep routine that starts about an hour before you turn out the lights is crucial for this reason. The lights should be dimmed, displays should be off, and white noise should be turned on low and rumbly. Your child will learn that all of these signs indicate that bedtime is approaching with continued use. Also, white noise is incredibly effective in diverting young children from both frequent internal sleep thieves like teething pain and external disruptors like a too-loud TV.
The lovey is a crucial sleep-training aid. Toddlers can get the comfort, assurance, and security they need from loveys, such as a cuddly teddy bear, to fall asleep and stay asleep. Every child, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics “needs” a comfort object in their early years for emotional support.Children like to know what’s expected of them, so to help them understand their role at bedtime, create a personalized book with photos that illustrate a typical day in your tyke’s life, including all the steps of their bedtime routine. Read it together regularly to help your child know what they’re to do when it’s time to hit the hay.
