Tricks how to put toddlers to sleep at night?

Discussion in 'Toddlers' started by Jasmin Cottontail, Dec 4, 2016.

  1. Jasmin Cottontail

    Jasmin Cottontail Active Member

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    Hahaha :D Yes you are totally right. It is really cute but not until they are older that they would come up with anything just to get what they want. Good thing you get it out of her while she is still young, and it's nice that she understands as well :)
     
  2. Jasmin Cottontail

    Jasmin Cottontail Active Member

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    I agree. Children are children and sometimes we can't make them do what they don't want to do. So the parents and the guardian's part is to tell them what is right and why do they have to do this and that and not those. Yes it can be really hard so patience and understanding is really a must. After all, they are still kids so let them be :)
     
  3. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    It's the hardest thing I've ever done and my older one is getting to an age where he starts to question and challenge my decisions. So, I do miss the debate about sleeping hours as in fact is true, as they grow everything becomes more complex. :)
     
  4. thisnthat

    thisnthat Active Member

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    Yeah, I get what you're saying. I didn't mean for that to come off sounding harsh. It's just my perspective, and of course, everyone else is entitled to their perspective as well.

    I agree that you can't force someone to be sleepy or go to sleep. It's why I suggested the whole bedtime routine thing. They train themselves to wind down and get ready for sleep. Even if they don't go right to sleep, they can rest and relax until they fall asleep. After a while, they get used to the routine and it just seems to make things easier.
     
  5. TheKnight

    TheKnight Active Member

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    No, it didn't sound harsh but I'm speaking generally because some parents do that and I don't agree with it. That's a good plan to keep them at a routine because you're right, more sleep is better for growing children. It's best, if possible without force to get them to sleep and I do agree with that. Reading a bed time story does sound cliche but it can work if you have some good long stories to tell.
     
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  6. tony

    tony Active Member

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    How about trying this, give the baby a little massage if you want to put the child to sleep. I understand massaging do help to relax the baby and help them to sleep and sleep better. This is like exercising the child gradually and maybe helpful.
     
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  7. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    Many times the issues with babies are gases, so a massage will help in that sense. As all their systems are new, many times they have stomach aches because of the diet and with massages in their stomach we can cause them some relief and they do sleep better.
     
  8. remnant

    remnant Member

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    The easiest way to put toddlers to sleep at night is to engage them in an activity they like for instance playing with toys that make sounds. Then follow this up with a meal that meets their preference. A warm drink to top this up will send them sound asleep. Grumpy kids are more difficult to lull to sleep and have to be rocked and given something sweet.
     
  9. Nocturnal Writer

    Nocturnal Writer Active Member

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    We give them a warm bath, tell them a bed time stories or sing them a lullaby. My wife is wise and adept on how our kids let them go to sleep. She prepared a warm water for their evening bath and after it by a couple of minutes or so they went to sleep. Now when it is my turn for our kids to let them sleep, I told them a good bed time stories and by and by I noticed them they're already sleeping. And the last technique was to sing them my favorite lullaby which I learned from my late mother.
     
  10. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    Actually I never bathed my kid before they go to be as usually I put them to sleep right after dinner. The routine is the most important, so if we are capable of establishing a routine they will follow it and will fall asleep well. It's not hard at first, but after some days it's settled for life. :)
     
  11. thisnthat

    thisnthat Active Member

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    I think you have a great idea with bedtime stories, and I don't think it's cliche. I think it works. Most kids love a good story (or song). All kids are different, so the types of stories or songs might change depending on the child. I think it's a great bonding opportunity as well, to snuggle down and share a good story before bed. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

    Do you remember being little and being tucked into bed? It gives one a sense of peace, comfort, warmth, security, and love.
     
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  12. TheKnight

    TheKnight Active Member

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    I remember my father telling me stories about his childhood. About times where he walked 2 miles from his uncle's house to his own and that one day, they encountered a snake, the dog was bitten and its head was swollen. They used salt water and little by little, the dog began to heal. It wasn't a venomous snake but it did cause the dog's head to swell because of the bite. I'm rambling but point is, I still remember it and after that long story, I was extremely sleepy. Long stories work best.
     
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  13. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    Another good thing to make kids sleep is to read them stories, they love to listen to a good story told by their parents and they go to sleep all happy with those fresh memories we just passed them. It's great to entertain kids, when things go well. :)
     
  14. thisnthat

    thisnthat Active Member

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    That is so cool. I think it's even better when a parent shares a story of their own. Reading books is great, and also nice, but there is something more "bonding" about sharing a personal story with someone you love.

    That's great that it stuck with you too. I imagine personal stories stay with someone more. I don't remember my dad doing that, but it was a different time, I guess.
     
  15. TheKnight

    TheKnight Active Member

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    It's a lot better listening to real stories instead of ones other people wrote. Those stories never end and you also get to have a different view of your mom or dad from them. It doesn't always have to be a story about an adventure either. It can be about how they used to work, how to take care of farm animals, how to plant, how to take care of a crop or anything you want.
     
  16. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    I don't know if I agree with you there @TheKnight. Surely that kids love a good story we can make up for them, but some nights I am just too tired and with no imagination, so nothing like picking up a book or letting them choose on, and just read. Better if I choose, or else they can get a really big book! :D
     
  17. TheKnight

    TheKnight Active Member

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    I mean, if you have the stories, why not? You don't have to make any stories up, though and it doesn't have to be about you. It can even be about your friends or your parents. Any story that comes to mind. I'm sure everyone has at least a story or two to tell. But a good book can work too so if you have a good one, go ahead with the reading.
     
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  18. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    Yeah, you're right, the do love it more intensely when it's a story that's not in the books. I recall a story my grandmother used to tell me about a yellow chick and a king and I loved it and my kids love it too. As parents, we do need to be more available to them as we are creating life-long memories and to do that we just need to give up some of our time to them.
     
  19. workingbuck

    workingbuck Active Member

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    Well tiring the baby would help put him to sleep but it depends if the baby is hyperactive. A bit of music would help too, but most of these things depends on the baby. It does work well on a lot of babies.
     
  20. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    Haha, good luck on tiring a baby, they never get tired and if we have that as a goal, we will get tired first, that is for sure! :D I am sticking with routine, because when they are used to go to bed always at the same time, when the time comes they are tired and ready to sleep. :)
     
  21. janemarie

    janemarie Member

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    I always found that letting them run a little wild before sleep time helps them to use up energy. A nice warm milk drink without sugar is also good, perhaps horlicks. If they have to have a sweet drink then make it artificial sugar as consuming sugar before bedtime will give them a sugar rush and they wont be able to sleep.

    Getting them ready for bed and then letting them stay up for 20 minutes is a good idea too, as washing and brushing teeth can make us feel awake. Once you have them in bed, read them a story, sing them a song or hug them till they fall asleep.
     
  22. to7update

    to7update Active Member

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    No way I could do that with mine @janemarie, no way! If I allow mine to be too active before the sleep time, they will just be electric and bedtime and I will have problems putting them to bed. Good tip on the sugar though. :)

    As soon as they are in bed it's just a kiss and some small talk, under 5 minutes at the most, and that's it. In 2 minutes they are both asleep. ;)
     
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