Comments on: Parenting Expert Talks about Toddler Sleep http://www.babybites.com/02/22/parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep A community of moms in New York Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:10:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Janeen Hayward http://www.babybites.com/02/22/parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-2643 Janeen Hayward Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:14:42 +0000 http://www.babybites.com/?p=3297#comment-2643 Many of the behaviors you described your daughter engaging in at bedtime (pleas for more drinks, cuddles, etc) are all very typical of children her age. These stalling techniques are a way children delay the eventual separation from you. It is helpful to build these things into your routine so you aren't running back in (even occasionally) to indulge. For some children, giving in even once can build an expectation that you might come, which is enough to keep them up. Or, sometimes they will be awake long enough that they become overtired and have a much harder time falling asleep. This sounds like what your daughter might be experiencing (especially given the occasional night waking). My advice is: 1. Move her bedtime earlier (20 minutes at a time) to see if she will fall asleep more easily. I know this is counter-intuitive, but if she is overtired, this is key. 2. Build a last drink, last snuggle, etc, into your routine. Follow through. 3. Make the room as dark as possible. The less she can see, the less engaged she'll be in her waking life. 4. Give her a lovey that smells like you to snuggle with in your absense. 5. Make your bedtime routine 10 minutes longer and snuggle/read with her a little longer before lights out -- all in her room. Good luck! Many of the behaviors you described your daughter engaging in at bedtime (pleas for more drinks, cuddles, etc) are all very typical of children her age. These stalling techniques are a way children delay the eventual separation from you. It is helpful to build these things into your routine so you aren’t running back in (even occasionally) to indulge. For some children, giving in even once can build an expectation that you might come, which is enough to keep them up. Or, sometimes they will be awake long enough that they become overtired and have a much harder time falling asleep. This sounds like what your daughter might be experiencing (especially given the occasional night waking). My advice is:

1. Move her bedtime earlier (20 minutes at a time) to see if she will fall asleep more easily. I know this is counter-intuitive, but if she is overtired, this is key.

2. Build a last drink, last snuggle, etc, into your routine. Follow through.

3. Make the room as dark as possible. The less she can see, the less engaged she’ll be in her waking life.

4. Give her a lovey that smells like you to snuggle with in your absense.

5. Make your bedtime routine 10 minutes longer and snuggle/read with her a little longer before lights out — all in her room.

Good luck!

]]> By: Lara http://www.babybites.com/02/22/parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-2613 Lara Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:21:21 +0000 http://www.babybites.com/?p=3297#comment-2613 Great video, thanks! Our problem with our 2 year old is getting her to fall alseep....we can have her in her crib by 8:00 after a soothing routine but she often won't settle to sleep until 10:00. She will happily sing or talk to herself for a while, whine a bit, ask for mommy or daddy, want to cuddle, or want the "one more" drink of water, etc. We have tried not going in the room or saying outside her door "go to sleep, we love you, see you in the morning" but nothing seems to work. She wakes at about 8:00 regardless of when she fell asleep,and sometimes is up once at night, sometimes not. She naps around 1:30-3:00. So frustrating. thanks! Great video, thanks! Our problem with our 2 year old is getting her to fall alseep….we can have her in her crib by 8:00 after a soothing routine but she often won’t settle to sleep until 10:00. She will happily sing or talk to herself for a while, whine a bit, ask for mommy or daddy, want to cuddle, or want the “one more” drink of water, etc. We have tried not going in the room or saying outside her door “go to sleep, we love you, see you in the morning” but nothing seems to work. She wakes at about 8:00 regardless of when she fell asleep,and sometimes is up once at night, sometimes not. She naps around 1:30-3:00. So frustrating. thanks!

]]> By: Laura http://www.babybites.com/02/22/parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-1111 Laura Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:48:54 +0000 http://www.babybites.com/?p=3297#comment-1111 Hi Susi, Thanks for letting us know! We are so happy this was of help to you. Stay tuned for more to come! Hi Susi,

Thanks for letting us know! We are so happy this was of help to you. Stay tuned for more to come!

]]> By: Susi http://www.babybites.com/02/22/parenting-expert-talks-about-toddler-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 Susi Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:15:35 +0000 http://www.babybites.com/?p=3297#comment-1109 This video on Toddler Sleep was so helpful! Really answered all of my main questions, and one's I didn't even know to ask. Thanks! This video on Toddler Sleep was so helpful! Really answered all of my main questions, and one’s I didn’t even know to ask.

Thanks!

]]>