How can a parent teach a toddler good sleeping habits?
My cousin is having this problem with her toddler, who loves to sleep through the morning, takes no afternoon nap, and keeps awake all night. How can this parent teach her child to sleep at the right time?
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M$2 Answers
1. Be firm, but fair. They need to know there is a time to go to bed, but do not get mean.
2. Be there for your child to "take them to sleep" by reading a bedimte story, for example.
3. Do not treat going to bed as a punishment, but as something needed to face the next day.
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M$
Firstly, set the routine you think they need ie waking up between 6-7am, having an hour nap around 2-3pm and then off to bed around 6-7pm, maybe 8pm at the latest.
Secondly, get them out of bed in the morning, open curtains be bright and happy and start the day with something quiet when they seem tired but move it up a notch if they wake up lively.
Before naptime make them very tired. Play games, make them run around, or walk a long way...not too much so they hurt, but get them tired out! When you put them to bed for nap go with them, read a story, lie down and relax too. If your child knows you are napping too they might play think its OK....if they don't sleep make them do quiet stuff, quiet toys, soft music, quiet things..... but mostly you want them to sleep so get them tired out.
Nap time isn't hours long, get them up again if you have too.
And again just get more busy as the evening progresses....make them tired after dinner with playtime and bathtime and then something quiet before going to bed. Keep the light low and be a little quiet yourselves so they know its getting late...put them to bed and if they struggle be firm but not harsh, don't give in, don't break the routine.
If they wake up at night, try not to get up and go to them, try to make them realise everyone is asleep....you might have trouble with this but persist, they will eventually get tired.
Whole point of all this is to set a routine and follow it. Habits are the easiest way of learning and doing things right each day.
Good luck~
experience
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