| Toddler sleep problems have a negative effect on the | | | | back down, shutting the door. |
| whole household. Sleepless nights create obnoxious | | | | Being consistent meant staying with it, so it wasn't |
| toddlers and parents who feel shattered beyond belief. | | | | surprising that this routine was repeated over several |
| It doesn't help knowing that your toddler's bad habits | | | | hours! Jamie became quite angry with me at first. The |
| have not only been created by you, but compounded | | | | consistent approach means sticking with it, remaining |
| by your own inability to change them due to your own | | | | calm and loving, and looking after myself and my |
| fatigue. | | | | feelings, while being very aware of his distress. |
| Often, this bone deep tiredness perpetuates illness, | | | | This can be very difficult for parents who have given |
| such as coughs, colds and flu, further exacerbating the | | | | in through tiredness, their inability to remain calm, or not |
| fatigue cycle. And so it goes on! | | | | being able to remain consistent. My daughter pointed |
| When tiredness has taken over your life, this is the | | | | out that being consistent is the key. She knows that |
| time to ask for help. It's surprising how friends and | | | | she caves in due to her own tiredness. |
| family will come to the fore with their loving energy if | | | | Within 3 nights of this consistent, firm but loving routine, |
| they are asked. | | | | Jamie quickly got the picture, learning how to settle |
| Toddler Sleep Habits | | | | himself into sleep, and re-settle if he woke. |
| Recently I stayed with my daughter and son in law | | | | He was never left longer than 5 minutes to cry, and |
| and spent some time encouraging my grandson, Jamie, | | | | adjusted easily and well. |
| into a consistent sleeping routine. | | | | His parents report that from fitful, broken nights, Jamie |
| At 20 months, his sleep cycle had changed through | | | | now sleeps all night and for several hours each day. |
| illness and then an extended routine change due to | | | | Meanwhile they too are catching up on the many |
| holiday time. | | | | hours of sleep they had lost through Jamie's wakeful |
| As I talked to Jamie about our expectations for his | | | | night times. Every one is sleeping! |
| toddler sleeping habits, I was taken back to the time | | | | When sleep training your toddler, sometimes fathers |
| when a wonderful, caring girlfriend took one of my | | | | can be the firmer parent and be able to maintain the |
| babies to her home for 4 nights to sleep train her. | | | | clear, firm and consistent approach that is required |
| What a gift that was for me. Now each time I repeat | | | | when putting a sleeping plan in place. |
| this pattern for others, I feel I am paying back what | | | | It may be a friend or relative that is able to stay,and |
| was done for me, with love! | | | | relieve the tired mother, by helping with the toddler |
| Jamie's Toddler Sleep Training | | | | sleep problem. It certainly is a wonderful gift to give |
| Jamie, now weaned, has mostly been breastfed to | | | | exhausted parents. |
| sleep, so his sleep habits are tied into his feeding | | | | At all times, when working with a sleep training method, |
| patterns. Because Jamie needed to learn how to go | | | | awareness of the toddler and his emotional needs is |
| off to sleep while lying in his cot, he needed to | | | | paramount. |
| understand what was expected of him with this new | | | | Some parents say that the cry it out method has |
| routine. | | | | worked well for them. When this is the case, the |
| His bedtime routine is soundly in place. First a bath, then | | | | toddler usually responds quite quickly and there is not |
| into pyjamas and his sleep sack with his cuddly. Then | | | | as much distress as the name of the method implies. |
| his Daddy reads to him, gives him a cup of milk, then | | | | There is a virtual library of books written on sleep |
| off to bed in his bedroom. | | | | training for toddlers. I encourage you to become clear |
| To train him I would say, "It's dark now and all the | | | | about what feels right for you and your family. Many |
| children are sleeping. Time to lie down in your cot, hold | | | | parents feel criticised and judged for taking a firm |
| your cuddly and have a big sleep, all night." | | | | approach, while others quietly get on with it. |
| At first, he had no concept for being put into his cot | | | | Some toddlers have other problems that make |
| awake. We had chosen not to let him cry it out, so | | | | sleeping difficult for them and if this is your case, I |
| after a few minutes, I would go in to his room, pick him | | | | encourage you to seek professional help for your |
| up and repeat the exact sentence in a calm, clear, firm | | | | toddler. |
| tone, followed by a warm hug and kiss, then place him | | | | |