5 Helpful Tips to Get Toddlers to Sleep

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It’s no surprise that getting toddlers to crawl into bed at night is no easy feat! And when we think back to our childhood years, we get it! We had so much energy (those were the days!) and didn’t know that sleep was good for us. But, as parents, it’s our job to make sure our kiddos are well-rested so they can grow big and strong … one of the many ploys we tell them when bedtime rolls around. And so, we’ve come up with a few tactics, er, helpful tips to get toddlers to sleep. Our hope is that by taking these simple steps – one or all – your babe will be snoozing in no time, no kicking and screaming involved (fingers crossed)!

1. Have a Routine

A bedtime routine is KEY… can we say that again? Try to do the same things each night before bed, i.e. take a bath, brush teeth, say prayers, sing a lullaby, read a story, and so on. One of our current favorite books to read with our young ones is Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Scott Campbell. The funny story depicts the bedtime struggle perfectly … between a kid and his stuffed animal. Over time, the consistency of a bedtime routine will clue your toddler in to the fact that it’s time for bed.

2. Wind Down Time

Speaking of routine, factor in wind-down time. The hour before bedtime should be spent on calming activities that keep high energy to a minimum. This is also a great opportunity to limit screen time and instead opt for a book. You’ll see just how much better your toddlers respond to bedtime after it is put in their perspective in Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy! Plus, the blue light on our devices is known to contribute to poor sleep quality, so a book is the way to go!

2. Serve a Bedtime Snack that Will Help Them Sleep

Did you know that certain foods make us feel more tired? Foods that combine protein and carbohydrates signal chemicals in the body and make us more sleepy. Whether you incorporate this combo into dinner or as a bedtime snack, your kids will naturally grow tired. As is gets chillier, one of our favorite night time treats is warm milk with a little bit of cinnamon or healthy hot cocoa, as dairy is known to help aid sleep. We also recently tried these frozen yogurt bars and topped them with a drizzle of peanut butter – the perfect bedtime snack! You can even make these with your kids as part of wind-down time!

4. Let Kids Have a Say

We think it’s useful to let our kids have a choice in different bedtime activities, whether that be the book they read, the snack they have, or even the decor in their room. From our experience, something simple like letting our toddler pick out their sheets and bed “decor” makes them feel like it is their space! And when they’re excited to be in their bedroom or bed, it makes it all the easier to get them to stay there and go to sleep.

5. Set the Right Atmosphere

Speaking of decor, creating the right environment for your kids will also help aid sleep. For instance, toddlers usually like having a night light … hey, we were scared of the dark too at one point. Look for one on the red spectrum as it is supposed to be better for sleep. A sound machine is another great option for young ones as it can have a calming effect and ensure they don’t wake to sounds around the house. This device combines both a night light with editable color and brightness, as well as a sound machine, and is controllable from your phone!

Do you have any tips you swear by to get toddlers to sleep? Share them in the comments below!

2 responses to “5 Helpful Tips to Get Toddlers to Sleep”

So helpful!! Thank you!!

Looks like such a cute book!

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