Many parents of toddlers soon realize why their children's age is referred to as the "Terrible Two Years". In addition to the normal challenges faced with a 2-year-old baby, some parents have a hard time convincing him to sleep alone. By the time they turn two, babies have grown accustomed to their usual bedtime ritual, and any changes made to this routine will likely meet some resistance. However, there are some simple steps that parents can follow so that the baby stops crying and resisting and goes to sleep alone every night.
Steps
Step 1. Make the baby stop crying
Refrain from allowing him to scream. Once your child cries to the point of becoming inconsolable, it becomes harder and harder for him to stop. Two-year-olds don't understand how to regulate their emotions, and if they are left alone crying at night instead of being comforted, this can lead to them feeling abandoned. For babies who are lively, this can also be a result of lower serotonin production, which typically has higher levels in calmer, less active babies. Sure, your child may sooner or later stop crying and falling asleep, but this is likely to be caused by fatigue alone, and not because they have learned to get used to the evening routine.
Step 2. Make sure your child is busy with plenty of physical activities throughout the day
Two-year-olds are full of energy. If they are not given the opportunity to use it later in the day, it is likely that it will still be there when it is time to go to bed. Excess energy combines badly with an early bedtime schedule. In addition, regular physical activity helps to increase the serotonin levels in the baby.
- Take him to play outside so that he can breathe fresh air if the weather permits. If he doesn't have a garden to play in, take him to the park or school yard. Even a simple walk around the neighborhood can help him use his energy.
- Encourage your child to actively play with toys. Even the simplest activity uses his energy, so offer him plenty of age-appropriate activities. Coloring books, modeling clay, building with colored bricks, and finger painting are all creative activities that a two-year-old usually enjoys.
Step 3. Be careful not to make him engage in too much physical activity, which can over-excite him
Activities that drain energy throughout the day can increase the body's production of cortisol, a stress hormone. When cortisol levels are high, they can interfere with bedtime and inhibit sleep. In general, it is best not to include more than one large energy-consuming activity per day. For example, if you go shopping for three hours in a crowded mall, it's probably best to postpone the trip to the zoo or the appointment you made to play with another child for another day.
Step 4. Avoid allowing your child to sit and watch television for too long
Watching TV is not recommended for children under the age of three. This is largely due to the fact that it can interfere with the way the brain processes information, and could lead to the development of ADD / ADHD. While this theory has not been proven, it is gaining popularity among healthcare professionals, including pediatricians and child psychologists. What has been shown is that many young children who watch television experience a spike in stress hormones, which can be active throughout the day and interfere with sleep at bedtime.
Step 5. Lower your child's activity level by one degree during the late afternoon and early evening hours
Let him calm down for about an hour before dinner. Make the transition from industrious and dynamic hours of play to calming activities like reading a book, singing songs or creating imaginative play with toys.
- If the TV or stereo is on all day, turn it off just before dinner and don't turn it on again until the baby has gone to bed. Eliminating these kinds of distractions can help him calm down.
- Prepare a warm bath for your child after dinner to help calm both the mind and body. Try using lavender soap or shampoo, which has soothing properties.
Step 6. Make an attempt to follow the same routine before going to bed each night
This will help the child to quickly learn what is expected of him at that time. After just one week of doing the same activities before bedtime, most babies get used to the new routine and know it will settle down every night. Decide what time your dog goes to bed and make sure you start the evening routine at the same time every day.
Step 7. Do whatever works for you, your child and your agenda
If you only have one baby, it may be easier for you to incorporate these habits into your bedtime routine, while with multiple babies it is more difficult. For example, with only one child, a stroll around the neighborhood with a stroller is a fairly easy task. However, if you have other children and they too have evening routines, not to mention homework and extracurricular activities, an evening walk may be out of the question.
Step 8. Make the bedtime routine simple
Two-year-olds have not yet developed all their cognitive abilities. If the bedtime routine contains multiple steps, they can get overwhelmed, which can be counterproductive. A bath, a small glass of warm milk followed by brushing your teeth and a bedtime story make up a simple bedtime routine that can be easily followed every night.
Step 9. Stay in sight of the baby as he adjusts to the new bedtime routine
This can help him feel secure during the transition to sleep alone.
- Stay in his room and perform simple, quiet activities while he is lying in his crib or bed. Fold clothes, take care of the household budget, open your mail or read a book.
- Explain to your child that you will stay in the room until they are asleep, but that there is no room for play or talk at bedtime. He needs to know that you will be there to keep him company while he tries to fall asleep.
- Do it every night. Eventually, his sense of security will improve, and it will likely take less time to fall asleep.
Step 10. Let your baby make decisions every night, this should become an integral part of the bedtime routine
Limit your options so that your choices are simple.
- Let him decide what story he wants to hear before falling asleep. Allowing him to choose a book from two or three possibilities will make him feel like he's exercising control. Asking him to select a volume from a shelf that contains 20, however, can be discouraging.
- Spread two pajamas on the bed and allow your child to choose which one he wants to wear before bed.
- While he's bathing, ask him what songs he wants you to sing.
Step 11. Give your child other limited bed options, such as “Do you want to go to sleep now or in 10 minutes?
. He'll probably tell you in 10 minutes, but giving him a choice will make him think he has more control over it, which can allow you to avoid struggles to put him to sleep. Refrain from engaging in power struggles with your child. Once you set a rule, it is important that you always enforce it.
Step 12. Don't give in to your child's crying and pleading to postpone bedtime
If you do this only once, you will indirectly communicate that the rules can be broken. A two-year-old can't understand special occasions the way an older one does, so he'll just learn that every night he can cry to get what he wants.
Step 13. Always stay calm
It can be frustrating to deal with a child who refuses to go to sleep at night. It is important that you stay in control and never lose your temper. Don't yell or raise your voice, communicate your rules in a firm but gentle tone.
Step 14. Ignore outbursts or crying
Recognizing them, somehow, shows the child that their efforts to get your attention are working. Negative attention is also attention, so it is better to avoid directly giving weight to whims.
Advice
- Developing an effective bedtime routine for your child is certainly not easy. Two-year-olds do not yet have a certain maturity and generally do not get used to the changes immediately. Remember that it will take some time for it to adapt to the new routine. Be patient and understand that you need time, but eventually the baby will learn to accept the changes and go to sleep alone, without crying.
- Children are known to start power struggles with their parents. The latter must choose their battles, and bedtime may not be the best time to set the rules aside. Giving your child simple choices at bedtime can help them feel empowered and ease frustrations.
- The technique of crying and screaming - letting the baby cry until he falls asleep - was once common among new parents thanks to a popular book written by a pediatrician who praised this type of habit. Although some doctors still support this theory, many pediatricians and healthcare professionals agree that letting the baby scream can have negative consequences.
