Are you the parent of a toddler who might be sleep deprived? If the answer is yes, then you might want to read on. Because we’ll be showing you how to fight your child’s sleep deprivation with some proven tips and strategies.
By the time you’ve finished reading this, you’ll be armed with plenty of know-how and confidence in helping your child fall asleep so they wake up well-rested. Plus, when they get to sleep so will you. Why lose sleep too just because your child can’t?
Plus, sleep deprivation can hurt your child’s growth in so many ways. If you want more positive growth and less of the negative then they need the sleep required for it. With that said, let’s get started with this guide.
How Much Sleep Does Your Toddler Need?
Your toddler will need an average of 11 to 14 hours for every 24 hour period. Toddlers might struggle to get to bed. And that’s understandable considering most of them will likely have a bundle of energy even when the time to go to bed has passed.
However, being energetic might not be the reason why they may not be getting sleep. There are a few issues that they may be dealing with. Among those common issues are teething, growth spurts, and even learning a new skill can contribute to possible sleep deprivation.
The previous factor may seem a little mind-boggling. Let’s explain why that is. When you are performing an activity (especially something new), it gets the wheels turning in your brain to a point where being able to sleep can be hard to come by.
The brain may be too active and may not be ready for rest. So it’s important to get those learning sessions done earlier in the day at the best opportunity possible. This way, sleep will be easy to come by later on in the day.
Signs To Look For When A Toddler Is Sleep Deprived
At the outset, it’s difficult to tell whether or not your toddler is sleep deprived. However, knowing the signs will give you a good indication. Here’s what you’ll need to watch for:
- Rejecting food or a drink
- Clinginess
- Pumping fists
- Crying, tantrums, or complete meltdowns
The last part might seem like a normal thing for toddlers to do. However, they are common signs that your little one might be running on low energy and might want to rest. Plus, a lack of sleep can lead to increased episodes of falls or stumbles in your toddler (which can lead to injury).
5 Strategies To Fight Sleep Deprivation
If you are looking for strategies to help fight your toddler’s sleep deprivation, we provide you with the following five listed below. It is important that you try one of them (or a combination of two) to start. Make it as simple as possible and don’t overdo it.
When in doubt, stick to one and give it a week to see if it sticks. With that in mind, let’s check them out:
- Consider a soft mattress
For a toddler, a soft mattress will feel very comfortable for them. Plus, you don’t want it to be too soft to the point where they sink a little farther than usual (and that could lead to possible suffocation). If parents want to find that happy medium where it’s not too soft or too firm, this comparison of several soft mattress items from Sleep Standards will help you choose the suitable one.
- Set a naptime schedule
There are two types of naptime schedules: one nap or two nap days. If you opt for a one nap day, consider scheduling it somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 AM to 2 PM. If you’re planning a day with two nap times, schedule one from 9 AM to 11 AM and another from 2 PM to 4 PM.
The goal here is to see if they will have a better chance to sleep even with periods of napping. If one nap days are working, stick with it (and vice versa with two nap days). If you feel that two naps may be too much, scale it back to one per day.
- Lessen their exposure to electronic devices
These days, toddlers can play games using your smartphone or tablet. However, the blue light that emits from these devices can reduce the natural amounts of melatonin. At least two to three hours prior to your toddler’s bedtime, keep these devices out of their reach.
- Stay consistent
Even on weekends or on vacation, it’s important for you to keep your toddler’s sleep schedule consistent. Sure, it might be a good idea to keep them up on the weekends or while they are on vacation. However, even the slightest change to the schedule will throw things off course.
- Schedule bedtime routines earlier
If you and your toddler have a bedtime routine, consider getting it done at least 90 minutes prior to your toddler’s scheduled bedtime. For example, if your toddler’s bedtime is 8 PM, start the bedtime routine no later than 6:30 PM.
Takeaways
Your toddler needs more sleep than you and possibly your other children combined. It’s important for them to get the best sleep possible every single night. The more well-rested they are, the more they’ll be able to function.
Plus, a better night’s rest will mean less fussy days. And it will also help your toddler grow and develop properly. Use the five strategies listed above and make sure that they are working without issue.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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