Bedtime Routines
Bedtime routines help to ensure that the toddler gets good sleep everyday. A good sleep everyday helps the toddler to remain healthy and active. Ideally your toddler must sleep at least 10-12 hours each night and 2 hours in the afternoon. Bedtime routines are greatly beneficial for your toddler during the later stages also. Less sleep or lack of sleep can make him exhausted very soon and restricts normal growth. So, it is a good idea to follow strict and timely bedtime routines for the toddlers.
Setting up bedtime routines for your hyper-active toddler can make him feel relaxed. A relaxed state of mind helps him to go to bed more easily. He will also fall asleep more quickly. Once you set up bedtime routines, remember to stick by it and follow the pattern in the same order everyday. This helps in putting your baby to sleep easily even in unfamiliar surroundings. Simple bedtime routines are always more welcome and easy to follow.
Although the sleeping ritual can start from any room in the house including the bathroom, it should always end in the toddler's bedroom. However, he must be made to understand that a bedroom is a very nice place and not just a place where he is sent off at bedtime.
How to Establish Bedtime Routines for 1-3 year olds?
- Allow your bubbly toddler to release all his energy about half an hour before bed time. This can be as simple as allowing him to roam around the house in and out of all rooms. It is easier to put him to sleep when he is less excited.
- Giving him a warm bath helps him to feel relaxed soon. Also, a bath can be one of those special times when your partner can join in your toddler's activities.
- Brush your toddler's teeth and change his nappies. If he has started using the potty, make him take a trip to the potty.
- If your little toddler has preferences over clothes, show him a couple of pyjamas and ask him to choose one.
- Get your partner to join you and play a game with your toddler. All of you can also sit and talk for a while. This enhances his vocabulary as well.
- Tell him that it is time to sleep and ask him to wish the elders good night. If he takes a long time over it, tell him to make it a bit fast. It is very normal for your toddler wanting to put off bedtime a little longer. One such way that he will do this is to insist on saying good night to all his toys as well!
- Make sure that the bedroom environment is the same every night.
- Read a bedtime story to him. You can also allow your toddler to choose a story that he likes.
- Sing a lullaby or play some lullaby that your toddler likes. This soft music will gradually drift him to sleep.
- Give the toddler a last cuddle and wrap him in his blanket. You can give him a soft toy to hug if he feels insecure.
- Try giving your fussy toddler some time to settle down. Leave him alone for a little time but not for long. You may consider checking on him after about 10 minutes to see if he has fallen asleep.
- You may have to be firm with your toddler if he tries to get up as you put him to sleep. This may be painful to you, but your toddler will slowly get the message.
- If your toddler gets up at night for a feed, try replacing the amount of milk slowly with water. He may find it less interesting to get up for water.
- Do not encourage your toddler to play with his toys on the bed at night.
- Switch off the main light and leave a night lamp on before you leave the room.
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Although you must follow bedtime routines as closely as possible, it must not be a rigid schedule. He need not go to sleep at the exact minute every day. Once your toddler gets adjusted to his bedtime routines, he will begin to enjoy everything else that he needs. Moreover, you will also be able to catch up with that much wanted sleep!
