Treating Toddler Sleeping Problems

Keep in mind that even though your toddler may think she doesn't need a lot of sleep, it is crucial that she does get plenty of rest. This means that she will still need at least one nap during the day and close to ten hours of sleep at night. Of course, children differ in their exact needs, but your child is developing quickly, and she will need plenty of sleep to keep her healthy.

Some small children go to sleep easily at night, but they battle naptimes. Other children take naps easily, but they fight bedtime. With either problem, you have several options. If your toddler is still young enough that she sleeps in his crib, then your battle is half won. As long as there isn't a danger of your child crawling out of his crib, you should get in the habit of putting him down for an afternoon or nightly bedtime at the same time every day. It is always a good idea to have a routine because children thrive on schedules. His naptime should be in the early afternoon, shortly after he has had his lunch. You probably don't want him to sleep past four o'clock, however, so that his naps don't interfere with his bedtime.

Try to get your child to settle down before you put her in the crib. You and she could read a few books together, watch a short video, or simply lie on the couch and listen to some relaxing music. Once your child has settled down, you can put her in her crib. Some parents rely on musical toys that attach to the side of the crib to settle their children down, and you might want to try that. You could also place a small cd player in your child's room to play some soothing music.

Whatever method you choose, it is important that you are consistent. Keep in mind that your toddler will probably continue to protest loudly, and you will have to calmly but firmly tell him that it is time to rest, then walk out of the room. It is alright to walk back into the room to reassure your child that you are nearby, but don't pick your child up. It may take several afternoons of doing the same routine before your child gets the idea that you mean business, and he gives up and goes to sleep. When he does wake up from his nap or from a good all-night sleep, be sure that you praise him for being such a good boy.

If your toddler has graduated from a crib to a toddler or big bed, then you may have a tougher time getting him to take a nap or go to bed and stay in bed for the night. Even though he may get willingly into bed, he may not stay there. He may continually find excuses for why he needs to get out of bed, such as needing to go to the bathroom or needed a drink of water.

It is important that you instill a routine before bedtime and follow that routine daily. You should also be firm with your child. Some parents employ a reward system. For every afternoon or night that their child stays in the bed, they get a sticker. The stickers can add up until the child earns a treat, such as a favorite video, small toy, or ice cream cone. If you don't like reward systems, however, you will need to be firm with your child. You may instead have to take away privileges, such as not letting her watch a favorite video or putting her to bed earlier at night because she fought her nap that afternoon.

Pay attention to how you react to your child's behavior problem. Do you give her what she wants when she gets out of bed, or do you ignore her requests? Do you come to her room every time she calls out to you, or do you stand in the hall and tell her that she needs to go to sleep. If she does get out of bed and comes looking for you, you should take her firmly by the hand and walk her back to her bed. Don't interact too much with her, and instead, help her into her bed, say goodnight, and leave the room.

Correcting your child's behavior problems will take patience and perseverance, but it can be done. You will have to be calm and firm, and you will need to establish a routine. Eventually, your toddler should take a nap or sleep through the night consistently.