Toddlers are little bundles of energy, but they need proper rest in order to develop appropriately. Yet, getting them to bed and to sleep can seem impossible! Help them get to sleep by creating a healthy bedtime routine for toddlers. Here’s how.

Having toddlers can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun! Whether you decide to create a craft for toddlers or go exploring with them in a nearby park, there is never a dull moment. However, there will eventually come a time in the day when you need to get your little one ready for bed.

While their lives might not be as busy as ours, toddlers still need a lot of sleep. In fact, it is recommended that they sleep between 11 and 14 hours every day.

Unfortunately, plenty of toddlers aren’t exactly the best sleepers.

Thankfully, there’s a way to help!

By developing a Healthy Bedtime Routine for toddlers, you can improve not only the duration of their sleep but also the quality.

This article is going to help you create a healthy Bedtime Routine for your toddler, as well as go over the benefits of why it is so important to have in place.

How To Create A Healthy Bedtime Routine For Toddlers

So how do you actually set up a Healthy Bedtime routine for your toddler?

SET A TIME: Well, the very first thing is to set a time. This should be the time when your routine begins and the child begins to start transitioning to sleep.

CONSISTENCY: You should be fairly consistent with this time every day, so the toddler can become accustomed to it. It will become their cue to get ready for sleep.

PATIENCE: Over time, through repetition, your child will become used to the routine and will welcome it. Of course, give them time and be patient. Change can be difficult for some children, so take your time, slow down, and don’t overwhelm them.

KEEP IT BRIEF: Also, try to stop the routine from being too long, as well. If it is too long, there are more chances for you to deviate or forget something, which could throw the whole routine off.

The Benefits of a Healthy Bedtime Routine For Toddlers

So why even bother with a healthy bedtime routine in the first place? Well, that is because there are many benefits of a bedtime routine for toddlers.

HELPS TODDLER RELAX: First of all, a bedtime routine can calm the toddler down and relax them before bed, which can help them fall asleep quicker.

Also, the more consistent an evening routine, the better the body gets at identifying whether it should prepare your toddler for the day ahead, or get them ready for bed. If they are always sleeping and waking at strange times, their body can be confused, which can lead to poor sleep.

HELPS DEVELOPMENT: In addition to being good for sleep, a healthy bedtime routine has even been shown to help childhood development.

TEACH HEALTHY HABITS: They can help show the importance of hygiene, healthy eating, and even help their communication. Many routines also help to nurture children, which is generally great for helping them grow and mature happily and healthy.

What Makes a Good Healthy Bedtime Routine For Toddlers?

So now that you know how to make a routine, and the benefits of one, what should yours include?

Well, this answer can vary a lot because it depends on their age, their hobbies, and the things they like. In general, however, there are a few “must-haves” in nearly every toddler’s bedtime routine.

This includes:

• a bedtime snack
• brushing their teeth
• a bedtime story
• getting into pajamas
• saying good night to everyone

Also, be sure to offer your child some choices so it doesn’t feel like you’re forcing them through everything. Let them choose the story, their PJs, and even their snack.

You control when they go to sleep, so you want to be sure to offer them the option to control something.

Developing a healthy bedtime for toddlers isn’t hard, but it does take time. If you’ve been lost on how to do that, I hope this post helps you begin to create and maintain a healthy bedtime routine for your toddler!

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