Toddler sleep training : Snooze For Kids

1. Sleep Training Tips For Your Toddler

2. Is sleep training your toddler right for you? Babies have typically started to develop a regular sleep-wake cycle and dropped most of their night feedings. These are signs they may be ready to start sleep training. I have helped many families with toddlers start to have healthy sleeping habits so that the whole family is feeling well-rested and happy. www.snoozeforkids.com

3. Sleep Log The last thing you want to do is start writing everything down, but it’s exactly for this reason that it’s important to log your child’s sleep. Record it on your computer, open up your favourite sleep app, or go old fashioned with a pen and paper, but whatever you choose, there are some important factors to document www.snoozeforkids.com

4. Wake up time • Nap starting and end times • Bedtime • Night wakings • Your child’s mood • Record this information for 5-7 days to provide valuable clues about your child’s sleep. • Don’t do it when there is illness, vacation, vaccinations, or house guests that may influence your results. www.snoozeforkids.com

5. Baby or Toddler? The term “toddler” is pretty ambiguous, describing everything from 12 month-3 year olds. When you’re looking at developing a healthy sleep routine though, it’s important to know where your little fits in for two reasons. What the average sleep requirements are for his or her age. Cognitive level. A 13 month old toddler is going to have very different sleep needs than a 23 month old toddler. www.snoozeforkids.com

6. Age Appropriate Routine If your little one is taking 2 naps a day, they will generally need a morning nap around an hour in length, and an afternoon nap ranging from 1.5-2 hours. A toddler that has completed the 2-1 nap transition will need a midday nap ranging from 1.5-3 hours in length and bedtime falling somewhere between 6-8pm. www.snoozeforkids.com

7. Manage the Sleep Debt As you focus on your child’s routine, their sleep debt will begin to be reduced. You can further this process along by not allowing bedtime to be too late. How late is too late? Well-rested toddlers can handle about 4-5 hours from the wake up of their last nap until bedtime. However if they are overtired, moving bedtime up earlier than this will be very helpful. www.snoozeforkids.com

8. Change Sleep Behaviours and Expectations Picking the actual sleep training method for your toddler will be based upon their age, their personality, and your parenting philosophy. Pick a method that you can see through to the end. Constantly changing your method or response will ultimately confuse your child (read: crying) so following through once you have begun is the quickest path to success. www.snoozeforkids.com

9. Professor Sarah Blunden • Professor Sarah Blunden, psychologist (BA Psychology Honours, MSocSc, PhD, MAPS), is Head of Paediatric Sleep Research and Senior Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, CQ University and is the Founder and Director of the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep and Research. • She is a member of: • The Australian Psychological Society • The Australasian Sleep Association • International Pediatric Sleep Association www.snoozeforkids.com

10. The Boss of my Sleep The Boss of my Sleep speaks to kids aged 3 – 8 and their parents and is a step by step guide on how to achieve sleeping through the night for Toddlers and young children. (This Book is available as downloadable PDF). When the child successfully does their bedtime routine, just like the animals do, they get a sticker as a reward. Next, to gain the next sticker reward, they stay quietly waiting in their bed. The second sticker, awarded in the morning, enables them to qualify for a prize, because they are The Boss of Their Sleep! Buy Now www.snoozeforkids.com

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