Although losing precious
hours of sleep at the hands of a toddler is to be expected, sleep deprivation
in and of itself is no laughing matter.
From irritability and
the inability to focus to suppressing your immune system for the long-term, the
ill effects of not getting enough sleep can quickly run you ragged. When
your kid can’t sleep, nobody wins.
While every mother
should expect their toddlers having difficulty getting to bed, sleepless nights
should be an exception to the rule rather than an expectation.
So, what can you
do in the event that your toddler just can’t seem get any decent shut-eye?
There’s a smart five-step progression that moms can follow to help get to the
root of the problem without doing anything drastic.
Rather than try to make
tons of changes at once, consider the following step-by-step process to making
sure your child sleeps soundly.
1. Start with the
Bedroom
Many parents overlook
the importance of a proper environment for sleep. Creating optimal conditions
for shut-eye can be done through a combination of the the following:
·
Installing blinds to block out excessive
light, especially considering that the darker a room is, the better it is for
sleep quality
·
Controlling the humidity
within a room with a humidifier or dehumidifier, respectively
·
Keeping the room
relatively cool with the help of ceiling or bedside fans
In short, rooms that are
dark, cool and comfortable will make for a good night’s sleep.
2. Set Boundaries
Another often-overlooked
aspect of better sleep for your child is discipline and being firm when it
comes to getting them into bed
For example, does your
toddler have an established bedtime? Do you encourage them to go to sleep on
their own, or do you immediately cave when they ask to sleep in your bed?
Listen: setting limits for
children isn’t always fun, but
it’s absolutely necessary. A little bit of tough love can go a long way if you
suspect your child is testing you regarding bedtime.
3. Establish a Nighttime
Routine
On a related note,
easing kids into a specific nighttime routine can help calm them down both
mentally and physically, reminding them that it’s essentially time to rest.
Reading to your child prior to bed is a great way to spend some productive
quality time with your child while also helping them not off.
On the flip side,
avoiding excessive playtime or screen-time (think: television or the iPad) is
equally beneficial. Going back to the previous tip, you need to be firm about
what is and isn’t acceptable before bed.
4. Rethink Their Daily
Habits
What your child does
during the day can ultimately have an impact on how they sleep. In addition to
having routines for bedtime, think about their diets and activity levels on a
day-to-day basis.
For example, eating
excessive sugar or having an “anything goes” diet isn’t going to help your
child during bedtime. Also, not getting enough physical activity during the day
could result in restlessness that carries over to nighttime. The more of a
traditionally healthy lifestyle you encourage on behalf of your toddler, the
better.
5. Consult a Doctor
Finally, don’t rule out
a visit to the doctor. After all, medical sleep
disorders in children and sometimes the
advice of a professional is what you need. While this is obviously the last
option you should exhaust, it may be necessary for the well-being of your
child.
You never know what just
might be setting off your toddlers’ sleep woes until you examine each aspect of
the big picture of their environment, habits and health. Whether you’re dealing
with a simple case of discomfort of something more serious, this five-step
approach can help you and your child sleep easy sooner rather than
later.
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