Toddlers are usually very unpredictable when it comes to sleeping and waking schedule. That is why, most parents and guardians develop sleeping problems or sleep disorders during the first 2 years of their child’s life. Toddlers usually wake up several times in the middle of the night, refuses to fall asleep, and they usually fight sleep. There are several ways that can be done to help in promoting sleepiness of your toddler, which can prevent frequently waking up in the middle of the night and it can also restore your own sleep-wake cycle back to normal.

Tips on How to Improve Sleep Cycle of Toddlers

1. When your child frequently wakes up in the middle of the night, there must be something wrong. Your child may be hungry, his or her diaper may be wet, your child is not comfortable with his or her sleeping environment, and many more. Make sure that your child is well fed before putting him to bed, constantly check his or her diaper, and always make sure that the sleeping environment is conducive for sleeping.
2. If you are certain that all situations above are well taken care of, and your child still frequently wakes up in the middle of the night and in a distressed state, it will be best to seek consult to your child’s pediatrician and ask for an advice on how to effectively improve your child’s sleeping pattern.
3. Toddlers usually undergo separating anxiety. Make sure that when your child is sleeping, you will be there beside him or her or within his sight. Separating or separation anxiety is a normal situation in toddlers and other children.
4. There are some children who can’t outgrow their separation anxiety to their parents or guardians. Whenever a child wakes up and his or her parents are not there, the child will go wild and cry his or her heart out. There are ways on how to slowly wean a child from separation anxiety.
5. Assuring your child all the time that nothing will harm him or her can help in separation anxiety. Providing a “comfort item”, such as comfort pillow, blanket, stuffed toy, etc., can also help with a child’s separation anxiety. However, providing comfort items and slowly weaning a child from separation anxiety may take weeks or even months. Parents will just have to be patient and understanding all throughout the process.