How to identify toddler sleep problems. Practical advice on how to give your toddler a good nights sleep.

Two of the most common toddler sleep problems are difficulty falling asleep and frequent night wakings.

If your toddlers sleep problem involves them waking up in the night, then what can you do when you know they are old enough to sleep all the way through?

If you want your toddler to sleep through the night without calling for you, the main thing is to make sure they learn how to settle back down by themselves. This is a key area when looking into how to deal with your toddler sleep problem.

This can be done by finding their thumb, cuddling an object (usually a teddy but can be a blanket etc), or some other way. Most of the experts agree that you should try to avoid letting your child become dependent on external conditions such as music, lighting, and feeding to fall asleep.

If any of these external conidtions are used then your toddler will need the same things every time they wake up at night before they can fall asleep again again and therefore you are not going to assist in tackling your toddlers sleep problem.

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If you are experiencing toddler sleep problems such as your child waking in the night then there are a number of ways to try and tackle the issue.

•Method 1 for tackling a toddler sleep problem

If your toddlers sleep problem involves them crying, go back into their room. Give your toddler a quick cuddle, tell them that everything is okay and that it’s time to go to sleep. Don’t pick them up to cuddle them. Remember to be gentle but firm. Leave and return to your room. Wait about five minutes and try to have a sneaky check on your toddler to see if they are settling down. Do this repeatedly until they fall asleep, extending the time between each visit.
As long as there is a routine for this behaviour the waking in the night should cease within a few weeks. If your toddlers sleep problem continues, try another method.

•Method 2 for tackling a toddler sleep problem

Maintain a strict schedule of daytime and nighttime sleeps.
Do not let your toddler decide when they are ready to sleep.
Make sure that your child knows when it is bedtime, or approaching bedtime by using a consistent bedtime routine.
When you have put your toddler into their bed try not to hold them, rock them or to have a bottle, juice or a dummy (where possible) to get to sleep.
If your child calls out to you or cries at night, go into her room at progressively longer intervals (5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes) to reassure them you’re there. If they won’t stay in bed, tell them you’ll close the door. If just mentioning it doesn’t do the trick for your toddler sleep problem, shut the door and hold it closed (but never lock it) for about a minute. If they do not get back in bed after that, go in and put her down, then go outside and close the door for two minutes, then three, then five, and so on. Five minutes is the maximum for the first night. Once your child gets into bed on their own, open the door, offer them a word of encouragement, and leave without going inside their room. If your toddler keeps getting up on subsequent nights, the amount of time the door stays closed can be longer – up to 30 minutes for the fourth closing on the seventh night. If your toddlers sleep problem continues, try another method.

•Method 3 for tackling a toddler sleep problem

Separation anxiety is an active toddler sleep problem at this age, and a desire to make their own decisions also comes into play, so your child may resist going to bed.
It may help if you let your toddler make bedtime choices such as:
Which pyjamas to wear, which story to read and which teddy to take to bed. Leave a nightlight or room light on. If your toddler still cries for you, wait 10 minutes before going in to settle her down, then leave and repeat the process if necessary. Do not shout or punish your child, they may just be trying to get attention, whether its good or bad attention. So, put your toddler right back to bed and leave as soon as they are laying down.
Stay calm and consistent – your toddler will soon realise you won’t give in. Do check to make sure they are not too hot and that their pyjamas aren’t too tight or uncomfortable. If they wants a nightlight left on or the door open, that’s fine. If your toddlers sleep problem continues, try another method.

•Method 4 for tackling a toddler sleep problem

Try to ensure that you have a bedtime routine that is supportive and comforting. If your child calls for you as they settle to sleep, do not go in straight away. Try calling to your child telling them that you’re there and how proud you are that they are learning to do this by themselves. Toddlers this age should be able to soothe themselves back to sleep when they wake up at night, often by talking to themselves and practising all their new words (or singing to themselves as my child does) But many toddlers still have problems sleeping through the night on their own. In order to do so, your toddler has to know how to soothe themselves back to sleep.
if they wake up at night and are scared because you’re not there or because they are afraid of monsters or other creatures or make belief character, it will be hard for them to drop back off to sleep.
When experiencing your toddlers sleep problem reassure your them that they are safe and all right and that you are nearby. Do not rush into your toddlers bedroom the second you hear them stirring; your toddler will need to learn to get back to sleep on their own. If your toddlers sleep problem continues, try another method.

•Method 5 for tackling a toddler sleep problem

Strictly stick to your bedtime routine – toddlers this age really need the consistency that offers.
Other ways to help your child get to sleep can include cuddling up with them and pretending to be asleep yourself. Prepare for bed and go about your own routine, eventually your toddler will fall asleep right in the middle of watching you. If they do wake in the night, don’t let your toddler cry themselves to sleep; instead, try to find the source of their wakefulness (such as a full nappy, hunger, upset routines during the day, a stuffy nose, or even irritating pyjamas).
Increase your toddlers daytime attachment to you and let dad or your partner play the role of nighttime co-comforter so both of you can help your child fall back to sleep. If your child has been a consistent sleeper but is going through a big developmental spurt, expect them to wake up more often at night. When this happens, try to get them back to sleep without taking her out of her cot or bed.
Instead, pat your toddler’s back and talk to them soothingly, and sing (badly in my case!). You can also consider taking them into your own bed but this is a very last resort.
I have only ever done this once in an extreme circumstance but would not generally advise this.

There is no “right” way to encourage your child to settle and sleep through the night. You need to choose an approach that will work for you and your family in order to tackle your toddlers sleep problem. As mentioned previously within this site, the comments are views and opinions and you may or may not agree with them. If you are struggling with your toddlers sleep problem then give the methods a go, whats the worse that can happen? If they dont work then there are plenty of other things to try. If your toddlers sleep problem still continues and you have or are running out of ideas then you can always consult your GP or health visitor.

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Click here to go to the Baby Sleep Solution Audio Program information page.
Click here for further information on sleep disorders and toddler sleep problems
If you are still experiencing toddler sleep problems then take a look at my related pages as there are other tips and advice on there regarding sleep disorders and bedtime routines or click the link below to go back to the toddler sleeping main page.
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