How to Stop Rocking a Toddler to Sleep
Rocking your child to sleep is a habit that parents typically begin during the child's infancy. Even if your toddler falls asleep on you and is happy you must get her to sleep in her bed so you can find time for yourself. When you rock your toddler to sleep you should realize that your time is consumed with not waking her. The exhaustion you experience rocking your toddler to sleep every night and at nap time is not healthy for you. Help your toddler sleep in her bed and you can both get better rest.
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Instructions
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Wind down with your toddler early in the evening. Set play dates early in the afternoon and don't get your toddler riled up late in the afternoon. Let your toddler relax with some quiet time and a calm activity such as reading a book.
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Begin a bedtime routine with your toddler. For example, get your toddler into a warm bath and keep her warm with fuzzy pajamas afterward. Tuck your toddler into bed and block the noise in her room with a white noise machine, which should help her doze off.
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Create a set bed time for your toddler to help her know when bed time is approaching. Pick a time around 6:30 to 8 p.m. to have your toddler in bed. Keep the bed time the same every night to get your toddler accustomed to the routine so she should start nodding off to sleep when you put her down to bed.
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Let your toddler make some of her choices during the bedtime routine. For example, you can improve your toddler's confidence in her bedtime routine by letting her pick out her shampoo, book and pajamas.
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Decide whether you are okay with the cry-it-out method -- although some parents prefer attachment parenting, a method started by pediatrician William Sears. Let your toddler cry when you put her to bed for five to 10 minutes and do not go to her until 20 minutes are up. Come to your toddler's bed and touch her gently on her stomach and head to reassure her but do not pick her up out of the bed. The cry-it-out method is a little more intensive and will require trust from both the parent and the child.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with a cry-it-out schedule that works for you. For instance, if you are upset by your toddler's crying come to her after a couple minutes but only pat her stomach and head for thirty seconds. Over time you can increase the time you let your toddler cry.
Remain calm when your toddler cries when you lay her down to sleep.
References
- Photo Credit teddy boy image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
