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Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep...

There are lots of benefits to helping your toddler get a good night's sleep. Yes, you'll enjoy some much needed peace and quiet, but more importantly are the positive effects on his mental and physical development. Experts say sleep is the brain's primary activity during early development, and toddlers one and three years old need 12-14 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period.1.

If you're having trouble getting your toddler to go to bed or stay in bed, it may be because he's testing his increased independence, he's now able to get up by himself or his imagination is interfering with sleep.1 He may also have separation anxiety, nighttime fears1 or simply want to stay awake with you and/or his older siblings.2 Here are some suggestions for making the nightly bedtime ritual a little easier on both of you:

  • Decide on a bedtime and stick to it so your toddler will know what to expect.2
  • Tell your child when it's getting close to bedtime. A little advance notice can help ease the transition.3
  • Establish a routine that tells your child it's time for bed. This could include reading a story, listening to quiet music, taking a bath2 and brushing his teeth.4
  • Let your child take a favorite toy or blanket to bed.2
  • Allow your child to decide which pajamas he'll wear or which story to read. Having an active role in the routine will make it more enjoyable for him.3
  • Take care of your toddler's needs such as a drink of water, a nightlight or leaving the door ajar so he doesn't use these as excuses to get up.2
  • Avoid lying down with your child or staying in his room until he's sleep, which can be a habit that's difficult to break.3
  • If your child calls for you, don't go to his room unless he's sick or genuinely needs something.3 Instead, wait several seconds before answering to give him a chance to fall back to sleep.2 Remind him it's time to go to sleep and you can't talk to him anymore.3
  • Don't let your child sleep share a bed or room with you; otherwise he may have trouble falling asleep alone.2

1"Children's Sleep Habits," www.sleepfoundation.org, accessed April 14, 2009
2"Sleep Problems in Children," American Academy of Pediatrics, updated August 2006, published online at www.aap.org February 2007
3"Speeding Up the Bedtime Process," by Claire Lerner , originally published in American Baby Magazine, July 2005, www.parents.com, accessed April 14, 2009
4"Bedtime Battles," by the editors of Child Magazine, www.parents.com, accessed April 14, 2009

Consult your physician or dental professional if using another fluoridated product.

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Source: "Ten Tips for All Day Shopping with a Toddler," www.thingamababy.com, May 18, 2006; "How to Take a Toddler Shopping," by Rose Halas, www.essortment.com