Establishing the best bedtime routines for toddlers is essential for their well-being and your peace of mind.
A consistent bedtime routine not only helps toddlers transition smoothly to sleep but also fosters healthy sleep habits that can last a lifetime.
According to current research, most toddlers start to lose their sleep at the age of 3 or 4, and it is getting harder for the mother to make them fall asleep.
Establishing a regular and structured bedtime routine can help parents to settle down their kids. Regardless, after many tries, parents still face some difficulties when it comes to their toddlers’ sleep routines.
In this guide, we’ll explore effective strategies and tips to create a calming and enjoyable bedtime routine for your little one, ensuring restful nights for the whole family.
Benefits of Good Sleep for a Toddler
If you ever wondered why sleep is so important for your kids, then first let you know the benefits of good sleep for your toddlers.
A good sleep at night improves the concentration power of your toddler.
- Boosts up physical and mental growth
- Improvement of cognitive skills
- Learning ability increases
- Best at doing their job
- More energetic
- Decrease the anxiety and irritability
- Increase the energy throughout the day
Good sleep makes for a healthy start to a happy day for your toddler. That is why a full night’s sleep is very crucial for your kid. It not only helps them become physically fit, but it also gives them energy for tomorrow.
Outcomes of lack of sleep
Lack of sleep or sleep depravity is concerning for both children and parents. And when it happens for a long time, it may cause serious issues. Here are some negative impacts of lack of sleep for your toddler,
Lack of Energy
Lack of energy is one of the regular things you will notice when your child can not get enough sleep at night. Lack of sleep makes them restless and tired throughout the day.
Anxiety & Irritation
Tiredness and restlessness from a lack of sleep can cause anxiety and make your child irritated. This is also challenging for parents and they need to deal with it every day.
Lack of Memory
Deterioration of memory is one such serious issue that can affect your child. It affects your toddler’s mental health.
Slowed Down the Physical & Mental Growth
The growth of the body and brain is slowed down because of not getting enough sleep. Then you need to visit a doctor for your child’s overall development.
Increased the Risk of Accidents
The risk of accidents is increased when a child becomes restless and tired due to lack of sleep. Then many accidents may happen.
As you can see, lack of sleep can seriously hurt your toddler’s health and daily life. Not only your kid, but you also suffer from sleep problems.
Best Bedtime Routines for Toddler
A solid bedtime routine is a crucial aspect of your toddler’s development. Maintaining regularity for sleep and wake time is also part of this practice. But before you start, you need to develop a positive environment and, consequently, make sure to give yourself enough time to work on this routine regularly. The main thing to keep up with here is regularity.
Hot Water Bath
As a mother of a toddler, I suggest starting the routine with a fresh hot water bath and then brushing. This helps children at a very young age how to take care of their teeth.
Taking a hot water bath before bed can provide your toddler with a refreshing experience and give them a good and restful sleep throughout the entire night.
Storytelling Session
Second, you should begin reading any kind of storybook. Reading and listening to stories help children calm down and relax before sleep. It is also a great opportunity for parents to bond with their toddlers and create a special moment before they fall asleep.
Do Not Introduce Lots of Books
One of the silliest mistakes that parents make here is introducing a lot of books to their kids so they get a chance to select many books at once.
This may longer the bedtime routine more than usual. It is important to set boundaries and reduce the number of books so he can learn to understand his preferences and know what he wants first.
Put their Favourite Plush Toy in Bed
Another way to help your toddler feel comfortable and calm in bed is to give them their favourite stuffed toy with them in bed. A stuffed toy for a toddler is like a companion, so when you put their favourite plushie in bed, they feel more comfortable and sleep much better.
It has become their sleep companion every day, ensuring that they do not wake up in the middle of the night as the toy soothes them when they are sleeping. It can also help prevent early morning wake-ups.
Consistent Bedtime
A particular bedtime every day is the most significant thing about this practice. The bedtime routine should not last longer than 15 minutes, or the child will be irritated.
For a toddler, it is recommended that the routine commences around 7:30 or 8 p.m. every night. Consistency is the key to success for a toddler’s bedtime routine. Children are dependent on routine and predictability. So you, as a parent, must be consistent about it.
This means you need to practice and follow all the steps each day on a regular basis to establish the routine.
Create a Positive Environment
To help your toddler fall asleep, you need to create a positive environment so he can sleep peacefully and without noise. You can use soothing lights and sing lullabies or any mild songs that help them calm down and relax.
It can help them get rid of nightmares, which is common among this age group. Because they are coping with the separation from their parents and trying to sleep alone.
Avoid Any Kind of Screens
Screens like phones or TVs can disrupt the sleep of toddlers. So you need to be very careful about not using any kind of screen before bedtime. Do not keep any kind of device in children’s rooms.
Summary
Now you are ready to establish rules and daily routines for your toddler’s bedtime. This practice not only helps your child to get more sleep but also improves their mental and physical health.
Creating the best bedtime routines for toddlers involves establishing a consistent schedule that promotes relaxation and prepares your child for sleep.
Sleep is important for both parents and children and when you get a lack of sleep for a long time, you get frustrated. The same happens with your child as well. So be consistent about the bedtime routine.