Unless you have actually met a toddler, you might feel, “Meh, putting a child to sleep is easy.” You are wrong, because that requires high energy, strategy, and most importantly, the patience of an aged monk. So, if you are the toddler-parent who is patting their kid on the back, chanting, “Good babies go to sleep” like a sacred mantra every night, here is a guide to put your kid to bed, without losing your sanity!

Start bedtime preparations in the evening

If you think bedtime starts at 8 PM, you are still in the dark. Dimming the lights, closing the curtains, and speaking in a relatively calm tone from dusk are small steps that send a signal to children’s brain that it is time to slow down and create a smooth transition from activities into sleeping. You will know you are doing something right when you see those small yawns and eye-rubs at the end of the day.

Follow a routine

Toddlers learn over time through routines that nights are for rest and thus, become aware when their body is winding down for sleep. Putting the child to bed and waking them up at the same time every day gives them a sense of safety and security rather than seeing bedtime as an “end of all fun.”

Avoid sugary treats or soda before bed

Added sugar not only makes the toddler hyperactive during the day, but also turns them into a mini nightclub DJ, who is convinced the night is still young! Soft drinks, especially, has a significant amount of sugar and caffeine that unknowingly messes up the sleep cycle of your toddler.

To be on the safe side, you can completely eliminate sugar after sunset. Without that sugar rush, a child’s brain is much more likely to cooperate with your reasonable plan for sleeping.

Limit screen time

The blue light emitted by electronic devices blocks the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates a healthy sleep cycle. It tricks the brain into feeling more alert, disrupting the natural clock. Additionally, overstimulating cartoons and high-pitched music make it difficult for a child’s brain to fall asleep. It is important to make sure the child is not looking at screens for at least 2 hours prior to bedtime.

Monitor their napping time

If your child takes frequent naps throughout the day, there is a high possibility that they will be energetic at night. To fix this, try keeping them busy with brain games, puzzles, and outdoor activities during the day.

Also, naps that are too close to bedtime increase your probability of staying awake until 3 AM with your toddler. Therefore, ensuring there is a proper gap between nap time and bedtime allows their body to develop just enough sleepiness to cooperate at bedtime, rather than rejecting sleep like a torn toy.

Spending time with your child before bed

If your toddler sleeps in a separate room at night, you are no stranger to the “one more question” or “I want another sip of water” request when you have said good night and are about to leave their room. This happens because the child suddenly feels less important and left out. So, before you put your child to sleep, make sure you spend enough time with them. Reading a bedtime story or just listening to their prattle can do wonders.

Now, even if your child is skipping sleep to take a moment to appreciate the ceiling fan, do not assume you are not the “a perfect parent” just yet. In the end, bedtime battles are less about winning and more about quiet moments that will not last forever, like the small hand holding yours a little tighter before finally falling asleep.

Therefore, you keep showing up and keep laughing when you can, because one day the house will be quiet much earlier than you expect, and you might just miss the chaos that once made every bedtime feel like a long, exhausting, and strangely beautiful adventure.

By K T Humaira

Photo: Collected