Toddler Sleep

Tips and strategies from Todays Parent

-If you think your toddler is getting enough sleep and might be going to bed too early, try shifting her bedtime to a later time. Gushnowski recommends moving it 15 minutes at a time for a couple of days, so that she's not overtired by the time she goes to sleep.

-Adjust nap times. Perhaps it's time to move from two naps a day to just one. Or you might want to gradually shorten nap times.

-Make sure your toddler's room is sleep friendly. Install blinds to keep the room dark, or add a white-noise machine to mask the sounds of pre down garbage trucks and particularly enthusiastic birds.

-Does your toddler wake up with a soaking diaper every morning? Try using overnight diapers or "diaper doublers"-- cloth or disposable pads that are inserted in the diaper to increase absorbency. You may also want to cut down the amount of liquid she has before bedtime. Putting a barrier of cream on her bottom may help reduce the discomfort so that she doesn't wake up.

-If he seems hungry when he wake up, a high-protein snack, such as hummus, yogurt, or nut butter on toast, before bedtime may help to stave off hunger longer.

-If he's awake and not willing to go back to bed, Gushnowski suggests trying to get him involved in quiet play until you're ready to get up. You may be able to leave some toys in his crib or room the night before, or you might feel safer having him in your room playing on the floor while you get a little more rest.