Image by london mummy
Although the title states that the tips are for toddlers, they can really be applied to children of all ages. All families are different and I think the most important thing you can do is find a routine that works for you and your family, so the end of the day ends quietly and calmly.
I have found that setting a bedtime routine early on with children, makes life so much easier as they grow and start to want to have more influence over their life. Here are 10 tips which have made bedtime easier for our family:
(1). Aim for same time.
I have found that by starting the bedtime routine process at similar time each night breeds familiarity and therefore ease of manageability with the children.
(2). Have a routine.
The exact components and order of a bed time routine may differ from family to family, but most families I know find having some type of routine that leads up the bed time process incredibly helpful. Each component act as a cue for the child that the end of their day is winding down.
(3). Read a story.
I have found this to be such an enjoyable part of the bed time routine for me and my children. Days can be very busy and it is easy for them to pass by without the time to read a story. By having it as part of our bed time routine (this includes the routine for day sleeps for the toddler as well) it makes sure that we do read a story together every day.
(4). Calm atmosphere.
I love music and so do my children and sometimes it will be on quite loud. As we start our bed time routine, I make sure that if music is on, it is on quietly and that it is of the calming variety not rock or the latest pop music.
(5). Room prepared.
Once we enter the bedroom for their story time, I have found that this is not the ideal time to tidy the room and make sure the beds are made etc. This needs to be done well before so once we enter the room, it is for the final wind down stage of the day – not a whirl wind of activity to get the area ready for sleep.
(6). Water and Toileted.
I have found that children very quickly develop tactics for delaying the sleeping process if they feel so inclined. I try to cover of most of these areas before entering the bedroom, so they cannot be used. Going to the toilet and a small drink of water are essential parts of my strategy to prevent the yoyo-ing in and out of bed that toddlers/preschooler sometimes love to do.
(7). Show Affection.
After the end of a long day it can be tempting to want to shove the kids into bed as quickly as possible! 
I find that the results from this are not optimal and that it is worth taking those extra minutes to have a cuddle and make the bedtime process a warm one.
I find that story time provides the perfect opportunity for this and with my younger two, we all hop into Possum’s bed. Babaganouski sits on me knee and I have my arm around Possum and we read the story huddled closely together.
(8). Darken Room.
Now that we have hit daylight savings time in Victoria (Australia), by the time the children’s bed time comes around, it is starting to be quite light. To make it easier for them to get off to sleep, I shut all curtains and blinds to darken the room as much as possible.
(9). Consistency.
I have deliberately left this point and the next to last, due to the fact that they contradict each other! I find it is essential to have consistency with the bedtime routine with little children. For example I read one longer story to my preschooler, but two smaller books to my toddler each night. The toddler sometimes will try and push another book under my nose, but I like to remain consistent and reinforce that he has had his two stories and that it is now time for sleep. Varying from one night to another is confusing for him and he is not able to understand where the boundary is.
(10). Flexibility.
This is the complete opposite of what I have just explained above, but like with all parenting I think there is certain circumstances that require flexibility. For example my preschooler will still have afternoon sleeps about twice a week. Occasionally Possum will have a very big sleep (2.5 – 3 hours) if she has been very busy. On those days I know that she will not be ready for sleep at her usual time and will extend that by around forty to fifty minutes, so that when she does go to bed she will not find it too hard to go to sleep.
What do you do to get your toddler down to sleep calmly every night?
{ 5 comments }
These are really good tips. I think the routine part is really important in our house …. even if the the “set bedtime” bit, occassionally flies out the window. Our toddler and pre-schooler go to bed very well most nights. I think they like the routine.
Hoppo Bumpos last blog post..Mutants and a giveaway
Great tips. We follow a fairly set routine that still ends with ‘milky’ time and my toddlers know it.
Sometimes they are too over it for a story but otherwise we do check nappies,say goodnight and hugs to Daddy and older brother, do the teeth, have a story on sitting on their bed and then finish up with a breastfeed.
Even being away for the weekend every two weeks for the last two months -our routine has saved us.
I am not sure what I’ll do once we wean.
Trishs last blog post..Smiley Saturday
Great post! We have been following a bedtime routine with both girls (4 and nearly 7) from the get-go and it pays dividends. Bedtime is never an issue at our house and everybody’s happy – esp. mummy & daddy who get to have some much-needed couple / feet-up time. Point #5 made me laugh as I am often guilty of whizzing around their bedrooms right before lights out frantically putting toys or even laundry (!) away. Not good, and I am going to put a stop to it.
Great post. We’ve had a very successful bedtime routine for about a year now – once we worked out Heidi’s need for a visual schedule and sensory input before bed.
For us we have a picture schedule up of our bedtime routine (picture in my blog here – http://leechbabe.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/farewell-demonic-angel/)
Mostly it works very well. We’ve had lots of problems with nightmares at night and I got the girls some fabulous nightlights from IKEA.
Routine, routine, routine is so important. If the girls wake during the night I go through the same routine from the lights out, say prayer, good night.
Since daylight savings started this year everything has gone crazy and no amount of regular routine is helping to get them to sleep. I’m finding it very frustrating. Can only image how hard it must be for them, tired and yet still bouncing and not able to sleep.
And while I’m writing a book here… Can i mention cola drinks and bedtime? one night we had a sleep over at my in-laws and unknown to me they let Annie drink 2 cups of coke with her dinner as that is what their children usually drink. I was off in another room with Heidi who was having a meltdown or I would have asked for milk for Annie to drink. My kids never drink fizzy drinks, let alone cola drinks. Annie was still bouncing off the ceiling at midnight and crying because she wanted to go to sleep because she was tired but her head was buzzing (her words) and she couldn’t sleep. Thus Annie has sworn off cola drinks for life.
Maritas last blog post..Sunday
gr8 post!! really its so wonderful to see the kids sleep on time… they look so cute and relaxed .. and they get up fresh in the morning with a smile… Well my girl is 2 and a half year old… she loves books though but its difficult to convince her into the bedroom at night when she is hopping around in the living room. Drinking milk is another biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig excercise where I reach my wits end … it involves conversations like now its hot .. now cold .. spill the milk while drinking… etc etc .. its a nightmare for me everyday to put get her to finish half glass of milk… Well I am working on that… we have started to play a game where she holds the glass herselves and she takes a biiiiiiiiiig gulp.. ( a mouthful … as the volume decreases my BP keeps coming to normal
) this happens over a discussion of some story with some of her favourite characters like Shrek, Dori, merlin, nemo etc. Other thing challenging is to get her to stick to one story and sleep… she demands for the next story .. by the time i start the first one… and it goes on and on… and the time comes for the next drinking water and pee.. followed by all the hugging an loving over the potty seat… 
any tips here till be appreciated 
)
Comments on this entry are closed.