These days your toddler is beginning to test the limits of his newfound independence , wanting to assert control over the world around him.
To curtail bedtime power struggles, let your child make choices whenever possible during his nighttime routine — from which bedtime story he wants to hear to which pair of pajamas he'd like to wear. Getting to pick his favorite stuffed animal for the night, for example, might make it easier for him to settle to sleep.
The trick is to offer only two or three alternatives and to make sure you're happy with each option. For example, don't ask, "Do you want to go to bed now? Several of the most common sleep problems for toddlers of all ages are difficulty falling asleep, separation anxiety , and frequent night wakings. Children may also experience nightmares and night terrors.
This age group has its own particular challenge: Between 18 and 24 months, some children start climbing out of their crib, putting themselves in danger of falling out.
Unfortunately, just because your toddler can get out of her crib doesn't mean she's ready for a big bed. Try to keep her safe in her crib with these tips from Sleeping Through the Night , by sleep expert Jodi Mindell:.
Lower the mattress: If you move the crib mattress to its lowest position, you may be able to prevent your child from getting out. However, this probably won't work when she gets bigger. Empty the crib: It's safest to keep toys, bumpers, and extra bedding out of your toddler's crib for a variety of reasons. For example, your child could use crib toys or bumpers as stepstools to help her get out. If you remove them, she may stay put a little longer.
Don't make jumping out worth her while: If your child jumps out of her crib and you react by giving her lots of attention or letting her get into bed with you, she'll just keep doing it. Instead, stay calm and neutral, firmly tell her not to climb out, and put her right back in her crib. She'll get the idea pretty quickly.
Keep watch: Stand in a spot where you can see her in her crib, but she can't see you. If she tries to get out, immediately tell her to stay in bed. Stay calm and keep the interaction minimal, so she doesn't turn it into a game. After you've done this a few times, she'll probably learn to stay put. Set up a safe environment: If you can't keep your child from jumping out, you can at least make sure she stays safe.
Place pillows and other padding on the floor around her crib and on nearby toy chests, dressers, and other objects that could cause a hard knock.
If she absolutely won't stop climbing, you can always move her into her own bed. We recommend having a consistent pre-sleep routine that ends in the same definitive way each time. For example, you might end the routine with the same lullaby each night before you kiss your child goodnight. Setting limits and consistently enforcing your routine will help children understand what to expect at sleep times. This leads to a feeling of security and ultimately less tears.
When we intermittently reinforce boundary-testing behavior by giving in sometimes, but not others , this only encourages the behavior and sends a confusing message to the child. Consider lengthening your pre-sleep routines to include extra cuddle time. Speak to your pediatrician about pain medication, if necessary. Parents who are used to independent sleepers may decide to help their child fall asleep on a temporary basis. If you start doing more to help your child fall asleep like staying in the room when you used to leave , your child will start to expect that every night - and possibly throughout the night as well.
Studies show that when children learn to fall asleep without parental help at bedtime they have fewer sleep problems. If your child needs your assistance to fall asleep, consider sleep training. There are many sleep training options. Each night, you move a little bit further away from the crib, giving your child a little more space and independence to work on falling asleep with less help. Once your child gets used to falling asleep with you further away, you can sit outside of the door.
Use your voice to console, as needed. This should improve sleep. While there are many variations, parents leave their child to cry for intervals until they fall asleep on their own. Although these methods tend to produce faster results, we want to use caution if a toddler is strong and determined enough to climb out of their crib.
When your family is ready, we can help you get back on track. Huckleberry Premium was created to make sleep consultations for children more affordable for families. We take into consideration each family's individual lifestyle as well as their sleep goals when working to create a successful sleep plan.
If you are interested in more personalized analysis and guidance for your child, sign up for Huckleberry Premium. The most common cause of night waking at this age is due to overtiredness and sleep onset associations. Children who skip naps or go to bed too late may be overtired, resulting in more wakings. The 18 month sleep regression can happen anytime between months old. This website uses cookies to enhance your user experience and analyze site usage. By using this site and clicking OK, you agree to these cookies being set.
Privacy Policy. Available on:. Could this be two-year molars? An ear infection? Is he gassy from eating too much broccoli at dinner? Is his newfound walking or running! Or is it the 18 month sleep regression? Sound familiar? But this? This is something different altogether. If you recall, a sleep regression is a period when your baby, who was sleeping through the night, suddenly stops.
It is a temporary change, normally lasting anywhere from two to six weeks. Most of the time, your baby will begin to sleep through the night again once the cause of the sleep regression has stabilized.
At 18 months, a child should be sleeping around 13 — 14 hours total. Most month-olds will be taking a single afternoon nap. Your toddler is learning all kinds of new skills.
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