When it comes to bedtime for toddlers, it can be challenging!
Maybe your toddler was never a good sleeper, and it has just gotten worse. Perhaps the newfound freedom of a toddler bed has them constantly up and down and taking forever to fall asleep. Or maybe they are just fighting you on every step of the bedtime routine. Whatever it is, I think most parents have experienced struggles with bedtime for toddlers.
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When it’s the end of the day and everyone is exhausted, no one wants to be dealing with bedtime struggles. You aren’t alone though, trust me, I have been there! Having a consistent bedtime routine is a great start. When you are consistent and doing the same thing every night, your toddler will know what to expect. This doesn’t necessarily mean they will like it though.
For a smoother bedtime for toddlers, there are of course so many different things you can try. In my work, I have found some tools that can be extremely helpful for families who are experiencing challenging bedtime with their toddlers. Here are three of our favorite tools that can help make bedtime for toddlers easier.
1. Okay to Wake Clock
These can be a great tool to use at bedtime for toddlers. Okay to wake clocks give a visual cue for when it is time to sleep and when it is time to get up. A few of our favorites include the Hatch Baby Rest, LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise, and the Sharp Ready to Wake Unicorn Sleep Trainer. We have this full post all about Okay to Wake Clocks including how to introduce them and use them effectively. If you don’t want to invest in an okay to wake clock, you could make your own with a wall clock by adding different color construction paper or using markers to indicate when it is time to stay in bed and when it is time to get out.
2. A Visual Schedule
A bedtime routine visual schedule can also be very helpful. It’s another visual and it is a tool you can use to really engage your toddler in the routine and give them some ownership over what is happening. We have a full guide for using a visual schedule for bedtime routines, which includes pictures that you can use to make your own visual schedule. You can download that here.
3. Meditation and Mindfulness
I have found that some basic meditation and mindfulness can be great for helping children to calm, relax, and unwind before bed. Books are one way to introduce meditation and mindfulness to our children. We have this “Yoga Animals in the Forest” book that we will often read before bed and have found it to be a perfect addition to our bedtime routine.
The Zenimal is a ‘Meditation Mindfulness Device’ for kids. Their suggested age range is 5-12, though I feel many toddlers could enjoy using it as well and based on reviews many parents are finding it helpful for their younger children, too. Full disclosure, I have not used this myself, however the reviews are amazing and many sleep consultants I know and trust have highly recommended it. I am planning to get one for my daughter. It is a screen free device which offers guided meditations, including one specifically for sleep.
These three tools together can be a great trifecta to use during bedtime for toddlers.
Visual cues, allowing your toddler some control while letting them know what to expect, along with calming and relaxation.
Have you tried any of these tools? If you are struggling with bedtime with your toddler and try any of these, I would love to hear how it goes.
