How do I get her to sleep through the night? What you probably mean is how you can help her to go through the night without needing help to get back to sleep. Waking up during the night is completely normal – we all do it! The problem is usually when she wakes during the night but cannot get back [...]
My toddler is afraid of the dark. What can I do? Being afraid of the dark is incredibly common for toddlers and preschool-aged children. It is also normal for you to give some reassurance to your little one when he is afraid. Be careful, though, not to provide too much attention or reassurance to [...]
What are sleep terrors? Sleep terrors can be very scary for you to watch, but be assured that little ones have no memory of them – so it’s not at all scary for them. Sleep terrors occur during the first half of the night (about 90 minutes to 3 hours after they fell asleep) when your child is in [...]
How much should my preschooler be sleeping? Sleep varies quite a bit for children 2- to 5-years-old. And it can be tricky to figure out just how much sleep your little one needs. Overall, preschoolers probably need between 10 and 13 hours of sleep per day (across the naps and overnight sleep). Some [...]
Will he sleep better at night if he does not nap? No, your little one won’t sleep better if he skips a nap. Children between about 1- and 3-years-old biologically need sleep twice per day: overnight and a nap during the day. If you take away your little one’s nap, it may actually be harder for [...]
Does white noise help sleep? Providing white noise with something like a white noise machine or a fan can help little ones fall asleep more quickly and wake less frequently. If you have a machine that you can change the volume, aim for about 75 decibels. Using white noise may be particularly [...]
What is a good age to start a bedtime chart? Children between 18-months and 2-years-old can start using a bedtime chart. The most important thing about a bedtime chart, though, is not the chart itself but more that you teach your little one what the chart means. Make it a fun activity that you do [...]
Will he sleep better with a later bedtime? Not necessarily – usually when toddlers stay up later they become cranky, more wound up, and tired. It actually becomes harder for them to fall asleep! That can be confusing, since for adults it is often the opposite: when you stay up later it is easier [...]
How can I get her to sleep with the light off? When toddlers have the light on, it probably means they are afraid of the dark. To help your little one become more comfortable being alone in the dark there a few things you can do. First, have some fun in the dark. You can play a game in the dark or [...]