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Many people have this idea that once you can get your child through the newborn stage that you can finally have your nights of sleep back, but that isn’t always the case. Toddlers often have trouble sleeping through the night and can wake up every few hours just like their infantile counterparts, just with less of an urge to feed or be changed. In today’s blog, we’re going to cover some ways in which you can help to get your toddler back to sleep and develop good sleep habits so that both you and your child can sleep longer and more restfully. If you have any comments or suggestions from your own experiences, please let us know in the comments or on social media! We always love to hear from you.
How to Respond Without Creating New Sleep Habits
It’s one thing to know why your child is waking up in the middle of the night, but it is another thing entirely to know how best to deal with it. Here are some ways in which you can help get your toddler back to sleep without creating a new sleep/wake routine for them.
- Pause for a minute or two when you first hear them wake
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- Many times, when a toddler wakes up, it is just a brief bout of fussiness that will take care of itself. If you pause for a few beats and see if it is just a bout of fussiness or a major wake-up, then you can avoid accidentally waking them up for real by just rushing straight in
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- Keep the Check-In Calm and Short
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- If you do end up needing to go in, you should keep the lights dim and your voice low and calm, and keep it short and sweet. You can try the following:
- Whisper reassurance
- A gentle pat or hand on the back
- A calm reminder that it is still sleep time
- Keep the whole interaction around 90 seconds if you can
- If you do end up needing to go in, you should keep the lights dim and your voice low and calm, and keep it short and sweet. You can try the following:
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- Avoid Picking Them Up Unless Necessary
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- Your first instinct may be to pick them up if they are crying or awake, but that can be too much stimulation and gets them out of their comfy bed. Try to keep them in their sleep space as often as possible to avoid building the expectation that every time they wake up they will get picked up which makes it harder to get back to sleep in the long run
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- Whatever you end up doing, we recommend that you keep things consistent. Keep your routine predictable and calm to help them be able to trust the process rather than always be on their toes as to how things are going to be handled, which can lead to sleep inconsistencies.
Before You Go
We hope that this blog about tips for toddler sleep habits was helpful to you. If your little one is still fussy after feeds, struggling to settle, or having trouble sleeping, we’re here to support you.
From sleep consulting to in-home 24/7 sleep training and overnight newborn care or in-home newborn care services, we offer personalized guidance to help your little one (and you!) get the rest you need.
Have questions? Let’s Chat — we’d love to help your family rest easier.
Katie B.
Expertise You Need:
- Certified Master Pediatric Sleep Consultant
- Certified Advanced Newborn Care Specialist (2016-2022)
- Board Certified Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
- 16 years professional childcare experience
- Certified Postpartum Doula (2015-2022)
- Travel & ROTA Nanny
Katie has over 16 years experience working with children of all ages. As a Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Newborn Care Specialist, she has professionally supported families and babies worldwide over the last 10 years. Her mission is to help the entire family unit get better sleep, utilizing a holistic approach that supports the baby or child’s natural biologic drive to sleep. She has personally served hundreds of families, holds 20,000+ hours exclusively caring for infants & babies and has 69+ 5-⭐️ Google reviews.
The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.
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