6 Tips For Getting Your Toddler Ready For Bedtime Without a Fight!
So, you try to get your toddler to bed each night pumped up that when he is in bed you can have some quality time so you start right in time but it gets stalled forever and you start to lose your patience and things go crazy real soon? I have been there, so I know how it feels when you are trying to make it to bed without losing your sanity each night. You somehow dread bedtime because of all the drama that you anticipate.
You start fresh every night but for some reason, success keeps eluding you. You feel like nothing seems to be working and you end up back where you started.
Not this time.
Because this time you’re going to be armed with the same tips, tricks, and secrets that the sleep consultants like me know, and being a mom have used these tricks successfully with my toddler. So, give these tips a try and see if they don’t work for you too…
Tip 1: Never stress about routine and feel like it’s a burden. Kids feed off our energy.
WARNING: We are tired, I totally get it, it’s the end of the day and we try to rush through the routine maybe skip a step or two which eventually puts the toddler in a rebel mode. Use this time for 1 on 1 bonding with the child and see the difference in the behavior. Be calm, look in the eye, and have fun!
Tip 2: Avoid controlling each step of the routine, give your toddler choices during bedtime, for example, what 2 books he can read? what bath toys can he take? Which 2 songs can he sing or wants mommy to sing? Which Pjs out of 2 would he/she like to wear? You get the idea, offer choices, toddler love being independent and that gives a good positive push to their self, they feel their choice is valued and they feel very much part of the routine. Go, team!!
Tip 3: Be sure to make ‘routine’ the one calling the shots! Make a routine chart, with pictures and explain to the child each step of the routine. Give them the authority to follow the routine and put stickers against each item completed. This gives pure joy to my daughter; I won’t even have to nag or tell her what to do next.
Bonus Tip: Have some stickers ready for a reward! The day they complete the routine without a fight, reward them with stickers!
Tip 4: Don’t nag about time, use a visual timer. Trust me it's such a blessing in our home. I just put the timer and she can now see how much time is left before we start the bedtime routine. Be sure to explain that only mommy or daddy can set the timer. Make it fun.
Tip 5: Be sure to give them lots of snuggles and kisses!
Tip 6: Allow dim light in the room. Acknowledge the fear. Toddler age is the time when separation anxiety peaks, fear of darkness is very real. Show empathy and explain to the toddler that we are all safe. Do fun things in darkness like a candlelight dinner or watching the sky.
Tip 7: Use a bedtime pass. Explain to your toddler, this is a bedtime pass that he /she can use one time to call mom, for a potty trip, snuggles, kisses, sip of water. Tell them if they don’t use the pass and it stays with them till morning, they get a reward in exchange. Any night they don’t use the pass, give them lots of praises.
Tip 8: Be consistent, that’s right. Kids thrive on routine. Keep following the steps with tips and see for yourself
In sum: getting a toddler to bed is going to be a breeze when you apply the above 8 tips. So let me leave you with one last tip…
Don’t overthink it and “Take action right now, even if you don’t feel ready…”
So, get to it – you’re going to be glad you did!
- Neha B., Your Certified Pediatric Sleep Consutant
*Still needing sleep help? Consider booking a free consultation with me so we can discuss your child’s sleep struggles, and how we can make sleep happen.