Ah, toddler hood—the magical stage filled with boundless energy, curiosity, and the Herculean task of bedtime. I don’t know about you but my kiddo is getting bigger, heavier and really needs to sleep without me carrying him around in circles all night. So let’s revisit the topic of baby sleep and check out a few strategy that can help ease the stress of bedtime.

7 questions to ask yourself about bedtime

Are you consistent at bedtime?

This was true with younger babies but as toddlers age, consistency really is key when it comes to helping babies wind down for bedtime. Establishing a calming bedtime routine sends the signal to your child that it's time to transition from play to sleep. Not their favourite thing to do, right? But the more consistent you are the better bedtime works for your little one. This could include activities such as a warm bath, reading a bedtime story, or gentle cuddles. My babies like the whole family to sing Christmas carols before bed. Whatever it is you find that works, stick to the same sequence each night to create a sense of predictability and security for your little boo.

What is their sleep environment like?

Around a year, my baby that had always slept in pitch black rooms stared sleeping better with a little light in his space. A very soft night light can actually help at this stage with better sleep. Also look at how many things are plugged in around the crib and see if there’s anything you can do to declutter and streamline the room. We don’t like sleeping in messy places and neither do our toddlers.

Does the noise machine need an update?

This is a good time to experiment with your noise machine settings. I found my toddler responded better to a lower level than I had previously been using. Also I finally got to move away from the static setting to some calming ocean waves. Yay!

Are you using screens?

Remember, it’s best to avoid screen time as much as possible. But if you are using it, try not to have it on within an hour of bedtime. Just like adults, blue light from screens can mess with a baby’s sleep pattern. So say goodnight to Ms. Rachel and try a book instead.

What’s the day like?

Has your toddler gotten enough physical activity throughout the day? Did they eat full meals? Was nap a reasonable time at a reasonable hour? What you do throughout the day can impact how a toddler sleeps at night. Physical play before bath time can help get rid of some of that pent up energy and get toddlers more ready to relax and sleep.

Have you tried bed lunch?

That’s what it’s called in my household. The idea is to feed your baby a last snack or meal right before bedtime. I like to go with a banana during bath. My toddler is contained, happy to eat, and sleeps better with a full tummy. Plus, bananas have magnesium and potassium which help muscles relax and prepare for sleep. If your baby just won’t sleep, try a banana for bed lunch.

Have you night weaned?

At a year my 25-pound baby was still nursing at night. This can be a hard habit to break but physically, babies don’t need night nursing beyond about 6 months. And the older you wait to do it, the harder it is. I night weaned by using the counting back from 10 strategy. On night one, you nurse for 10 minutes. Night two it’s 9 minutes, Night three is 8 minutes, and so on. The babies will get frustrated they can’t get a full feed in but eventually they learn it’s not worth waking up for 3 minutes of nursing.

Toddler sleep is a wild ride

Transitioning your toddler to a solid sleep routine may take time and patience, so don't be disheartened if you don't see immediate results. Stay consistent with your bedtime routine and sleep strategies, and be prepared to make adjustments along the way as your baby’s needs evolve. With time and perseverance, your screaming toddler will develop healthy sleep habits but it just might take away. Sorry, mama.

But the upside is a lot of the work you’ll do now will help teach your baby how to sleep soundly through the night so they wake up more refreshed and ready to go.