How to Prevent Bedtime Battles With Your Toddler: Toddlers and Bedtime Battles

Saying, “Goodnight, I love you” every night to your toddlers when tucking them in at bedtime, often works wonders. They begin to know and understand that they are going to bed for the night.  

The article, “Bedtime battles with your toddler” offers some help for those confronted with toddler bedtime battles.

Bedtime for toddlers should not have to be battle time. Unfortunately, for many parents with toddlers, a battleground appears to exist in many toddlers’ bedrooms. Learning how to prevent bedtime battles with toddlers is important for your peace of mind and for your toddler’s well being. Having toddlers go to bed peacefully is more conducive to everyone’s sleep.    

Remember that most toddlers are happy, curious and astute by nature and never want to miss anything. Bedtime means that they have to settle down for the night, away from all the fun and events that continue into the wee hours of the morning, whether they like it or not.

Toddlers who feel loved, safe and secure in their homes, do not have a problem going to bed at night, particularly when parents, grandparents or others are loving, kind and caring. When toddlers have bedrooms and beds that are quiet, clean, well ventilated and comfortable, going to bed is not a battle.  

Preventing battles with your toddler is not easy, as some toddlers have a biological clock that is not sleep-conducive, at certain times of the evening. They may resist going to bed, demanding continual attention, fussing, fighting and screaming.

These toddlers need to get enough sleep. Settling them in for the night a bit later, may prove helpful. Putting toddlers to bed one at a time may be easier than forcing them to go to bed at the same time.

Establishing and maintaining good communication with your toddlers is important. Remember that toddlers cannot tell you what they need, want or what is wrong. They may try. It is up to the parents or grandparents, baby sitters or others to understand why toddlers resist going to bed.

Spending quality time with them is important so that they feel safe and secure. Even stretching out beside them after a busy day, helps everyone to relax.

Bedtime that follows an active time like taking a walk, snack time and a quiet time helps toddlers to adjust. 

Maintaining a relatively consistent bedtime routine will prove helpful. Perhaps a story time, children’s movie or spending time talking to toddlers can help. Night-lights and toddler’s flashlights may help those who are afraid of the dark.

Your toddlers need their sleep. You need time to rest and relax too and should be able to do so, as your toddlers begin to understand how important their happy bedtime is to everyone.