Toddlers and sleep
Toddlers need a varying amount
of sleep and sometime near their first birthday they may be ready to drop two
naps down to one.
You can usually tell when your toddler is ready for this as
she becomes reluctant to sleep at naptime, indicating that she isn’t as tired
anymore. She may not settle well at night when she previously slept well, or it
may take her longer to fall asleep or wind down.
If this is the case it is
probably a good idea to gradually cut out one of her naps by pushing her
morning nap back by ten minutes a day so it becomes an after-lunch nap, then drop
the afternoon nap altogether. This may mean that you get less time to do the
household chores although some toddlers sleep for two hours in the middle of
the day, which can be handy. Another plus to a one-nap-a-day schedule is that
by the time your toddler’s head hits the pillow at bedtime they are well and
truly tired and most fall asleep without complaint. Read our article on dropping naps for more advice.
Over the course of the first
year your toddler should settle into this rhythm of having one nap, and
sometime during the second half or beginning of the following year, she will
eventually drop that nap and have none at all. If your toddler is showing the
same signs of being unsettled or reluctant to sleep in the day, you could try
cutting the daytime nap altogether. It is important to give your toddler some
quiet time in the afternoon if this is the case, so she can relax and wind down
a bit when she normally napped.
If your toddler seems reluctant
to sleep in general and she is on the right nap schedule for her age, here are
some tips for reclaiming a better night’s sleep for you and your toddler:
- Try to create a soothing sleep
environment for your toddler. This means an uncluttered room to sleep in,
light-filtering blinds or curtains at the windows (especially in the summer)
and a nightlight in case she isn’t comfortable sleeping in the dark.
- Try to kiss your toddler
goodnight every night and tell her you’ll be there if she needs you. Some
toddlers like to fall asleep knowing mom or dad is next to them, others are
happy for you to leave, so let your toddler be the judge.
Keep your toddler busy during
the day, ensuring she gets plenty of time to run about outside. Toddlers have
lots of energy they need to dispel during the day and fresh air will help them
to sleep.
- Make sure your child has a
realistic bedtime, rather than what fits in with you – 6pm might be too early
but 9pm might be too late, so again, you will have to look for signals your
child is tired (such as rubbing her eyes or becoming cranky).
- Remember children like to have
a routine so they are prepared for what comes next. It might be useful for you
to have structure in your evenings too, so stick to a dinner, bath, quiet play,
story and bed routine.
- Try to start the bedtime
routine early so that your child has lots of time to wind down. If you give her
a bath after dinner and then have a story followed by some gentle or quiet play
and a warm milky drink, your child should be more ready for bed than if you
rush the bedtime routine into half an hour.
-Try to resist bringing your
toddler into your bed. She will get used to it and may only feel secure
sleeping with you. This is a hard habit to break and means you and your partner
are likely to have disrupted sleep!
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.