Toddler insomnia is a common issue, but if you don’t nip it in the proverbial bud early on, it can become a serious dilemma. When your youngster loses sleep, they can be grumpy, delayed in responses throughout the day, and generally sluggish and unpleasant. However, you can cope with and even cure toddler insomnia by starting with the following three steps.
Side note: Melatonin is a common go-to for toddler insomnia, so keep it as an over-the-counter backup for the worst cases.
Create a Relaxing and Soothing Nighttime Schedule that Your Child Can Memorize as Their Sleepy-Time Routine
Decide on a bedtime for your babe and start getting ready for bed an hour before that bedtime. Set a nighttime routine that follows the same pattern every single night, as a schedule will sleep train your bubba’s mind.
What does the average sleepy-time routine look like? Example: Take a shower with soothing lavender bodywash, brush teeth, put on comfy jammies, snuggles with mom and/or dad, a story or whispered conversation, then lights out.
Tip: Work third shifts? Record yourself reading a bedtime story with dictaphone c-phones so your babe never misses hearing your voice at night.
Limit Screens Throughout the Day and Focus More on Energetic, Imaginative Play to Tire Out Toddlers
It’s okay to keep a television on in the background throughout the day, but your kids NEED to tire themselves out before bedtime. Ergo, it might be a good idea to turn the screens off and allow children to focus more on independent playtime that encourages movement and imagination.
Tip: A fenced-in backyard and a classic swing set is an amazing summertime source of fun for energetic kiddos.
Eliminate the Possibilities of More Serious Insomniac Troubles, i.e. Sleep Apnea or Medication Side Effects
While getting out their energies is number one to your kiddo getting a good amount of restful sleep, there could be other underlying issues that cause toddler insomn.
Medications that are used to treat ADHD, for example, have the side effects of restlessness and trouble going to sleep. Childhood sleep apnea is another health issue that could cause insomnia, but all of these dilemmas can be remedied with professional healthcare.