Toddlers are a different story. If your toddler has often been on a chaotic sleep schedule and has never followed a bedtime routine then you as a parent are in for a big challenge. It is much more difficult to change bad habits then to form them at an early age. The most important aspect of a healthy bedtime routine for a child at any age is an established agenda. Begin a set bedtime and stick to it. Select a time that works well for everyone. A good time to put young children to bed is between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm depending on their nap times. After you chose a bedtime you need to create a workable routine. An example of a good bedtime routine is something like a story before bed, a soothing bath to calm the child or quiet time with mom and dad; whatever you chose make sure you do the exact same thing every night so the child knows this is what we do when we are getting ready for bed. Consistency is extremely important. If you are consistent and develop a “bedtime ritual” then the child will train their bodies to react to the activity, therefore preparing for “sleep mode.”
Falling Asleep on Their Own
Teaching your child to fall asleep on their own is a big issue for many parents. Starting young is the best way to teach a baby how to go to sleep on their own. Children thrive on reassurance and security. For infants if they are just starting to fall asleep try putting them in their bed before they are actually asleep and let them dose off on their own. It might be hard at first to get them used to lying in their bed instead of in your arms. If you need to let them cry a little that is fine, just make sure they are comfortable and in the proper sleeping position. If they associate their bed with falling asleep then it will be easier at nap time and bedtime when they are older. Babies who can fall asleep on their own have an easier time of soothing themselves back to sleep if they wake up in the night. If your infant wakes up in the night respond to him, but try to let him put himself back to sleep. Check on the baby and make sure they are comfortable then leave them to go back to sleep on their own. If you pick them up and rock them back to sleep then they will come to expect that and rely on that every night. The bottom line is a child who can put itself back to sleep will have healthier sleeping habits and well rested parents.