Instill a love of reading—and get your child to sleep—by reading children's books about bedtime every night. Check out our top picks here! It's the question I get more than any other, the topic everyone has battled with at some point or another. Bedtime. Namely, how can we get our kids to fall asleep / stay asleep / not be so scared about sleep. We can sleep train, coerce, and give rewards as a way to convince them to go to sleep. But one of the best ways to overcome this challenge is through reading children's books about bedtime. With books, kids can relate to the characters. They … [Read more...]
How to Establish a Baby Nighttime Routine
Need examples of a baby nighttime routine to do every night? Learn how to establish a consistent evening routine to help your newborn sleep. We've all heard we should have a baby nighttime routine, but how exactly do you start? When and what age is it appropriate to follow a routine, and how long should each one be? With so much to take in as a parent, it's no wonder we're not even sure we're doing things right, including establishing a routine. When I took my eldest home from the hospital, I felt like I was always scrambling from one activity to the next. Other times, I was so … [Read more...]
7 Proven Strategies to Handle Bedtime Tantrums
Dealing with toddler tantrums at bedtime isn't easy, especially when everyone loses sleep. Discover 7 strategies to end bedtime tantrums once and for all. Bedtime tantrums seem to come out of nowhere, don't they? Your child used to go to sleep so easily, but now dives into full-blown meltdowns at bedtime. He starts freaking out, kicking and screaming, despite nothing having changed in your routine at all. In fact, you have no idea what's causing these toddler tantrums at bedtime, much less how to handle them. So, within the last few weeks, your once "great sleeper" is suddenly not so … [Read more...]
How to Stop Toddler Bedtime Tantrums
Bedtimes for children can be a challenge for many parents. Here's how to stop toddler bedtime tantrums, from resisting sleep to not staying in their room. For the past week, your toddler has complete meltdowns about bedtime. She's fine with the idea of going to sleep, and will happily take a bath and read bedtime books. But as soon as you leave the room, the tantrums begin. She'll whine, scream, and throw just about every excuse to get you to prolong the bedtime routine. She's even gotten out of bed and figured out how to open the door to her room. What had once been a relaxing end to … [Read more...]
9 Ways to Avoid 2 Year Old Bedtime Tantrums
Dealing with uncontrollable 2 year old bedtime tantrums is hard when your child is hysterical. Learn how to stop the sudden screaming and crying with these tips. I used to look forward to bedtime, ever since my 2 year old could sleep through the night. But that all changed when, for a week straight, he started having major tantrums every single night. Just about anything triggered these tantrums, from wanting a cup of water to his blanket not tucked in correctly. And the tantrums lasted for what seemed like forever, until he'd finally worn himself out and fell asleep (on the floor, no … [Read more...]
Is Your 2 Year Old Not Going to Sleep Until 11pm?
Is your 2 year old not going to sleep until 11pm? Learn common reasons kids sleep late, the downsides of a late bedtime, and how to transition to an earlier bedtime. "He's going to bed too late," your relatives have told you. You actually agree, but putting him to bed any earlier than 11pm has been a struggle. He's wired the whole evening until late in the night. So much so that even an early bedtime means he's turning the lights back on and getting out of bed. You're not sure what to do, as he wakes up refreshed and energized, not sleepy or grouchy as you might expect from someone … [Read more...]
How to Respond when Your 3 Year Old Won’t Stay in Bed
Your 3 year old won’t stay in bed? You aren’t alone! Get practical and helpful tips for when your child suddenly won’t sleep alone. Independence can come at a price, don't you think? For instance, your 3 year old's newfound ability to get in and out of bed usually means he's getting out more than staying in. In fact, he gets up some 12 times a night, over and over. If you drop his afternoon nap, he can hardly stay awake past 5pm. But if he does take a nap, he won't go to bed until past 10pm. You may have tried putting him back in bed like you heard you should do, but eventually gave up … [Read more...]
What to Do When Your Toddler Is Hysterical at Bedtime
Is your toddler hysterical at bedtime? Avoid screaming at night for hours with these tips and get your child sleeping soundly in no time. It comes out of nowhere, don't you think? Your toddler is now all of a sudden screaming and crying—for hours—when you're putting her to bed at night. She wants to get out of the crib and play, but all this madness is causing her to sleep as late as 10pm. Never mind that she still wakes up at the ungodly hour of 6am. She acts scared to go to sleep, but going into her room and reassuring her only makes things worse. She has a full-on meltdown, … [Read more...]