Get your toddler into a routine

Do you have problems getting your child to go to sleep easily every night?

Do they just keep climbing out of bed, refuse to brush teeth or keep crying?

Do they not want to get up for preschool the next day?

With a few simple tricks, your toddler can be in bed and actually asleep before you are too exhausted to stay up and spend time on yourself.

The first step is to remember that a bedtime routine is like a strict schedule.

Once your child has the same routine for every night of the week, they will remind you what comes next.

Children love patterns and learn very quickly. Set the time that your child will begin this schedule and remember to stick to it.

Bathtime is an easy way to help your child to wind down for the night and begin to relax.

If you have a couple of children, why not put two in at a time, so they can play in the water together.

Make it suitably warm, add bubble bath, toys – anything that helps them enjoy it.

Remember, you are not a drill sergeant, give yourself the right to act silly and playful don’t worry if your spouse hears you pretending to be a singing washcloth.

After the slippery wet ones are out and dry, don’t get side-tracked, keep up the routine.

Dress for bedtime and then it’s back to the bathroom to brush teeth.

If your toddler is too little to spit, be sure to use toothpaste with no fluoride.

There are many brands for toddlers without fluoride, plus your child is not too young to start brushing if they already have teeth.

The next step can test your patience, but is a good way to spend quality time with your child.

Sit on your child’s bed, not on yours — they might not want to leave after the story — and read a short story to them.

During this time it is a good idea to be calm and not too loud.

Keep the peace by reading books specifically for bedtime, or other mellow storylines.

After the books and hugs and kisses, putting on soothing classical music or lullabies with a radio or a CD can help to set the mood for sleepy ones.

Explain that it is now bedtime and that your child is not to get up.

Once you have left the room is when matters can become troublesome.

Don’t go into the room if your child begins to cry for you.

This is where you need patience.

If you cannot brave the crying, or it continues for an extended period, return to the room, have your child lie down on their tummy and softly pat their backs until they calm down.

Information obtained from www.kidshealth.org.