Ideas for Developing a Healthy Nighttime Routine for a Toddler
Early in a child’s life, patterns and routines are important for their development. Consistency is proven to create comfort, establish safety, and encourage self-control in babies and toddlers. That consistency is incredibly important at night, which can help them relax and wind down to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, a good routine ensures you’re establishing healthy behaviors early that will last a lifetime and help with mood, stress levels, and even personal well-being. If you’re wondering how to create a healthy nighttime routine for your toddler, consider the following 6 ways to ease the transition.
Screentime is incredibly stimulating to toddlers. That’s why limiting screentime before bedtime is so important. Research shows that televisions and other devises can disrupt normal sleep patterns and keep children away for longer spans of time. For a consistent bedtime routine, remove screens an hour before bedtime. Taking away that screen time will help quiet your toddler’s brain and make the transition to bedtime much easier.
Have a Snack Before Bedtime
Giving your child a snack before heading to bed can be a simple way to establish a routine that also ensures they have a full belly before bedtime. If your toddler frequently says they’re hungry before bedtime, this may be an especially helpful part of the routine. Make sure it’s a healthy snack that provides them with any nutrients they may have been missing from the day. Foods like bananas, yogurt, granola, Cheerios, or peanut butter and toast can help them fill their bellies and feel satisfied while helping them sleep better through the night.
Give Your Child a Bath
A great way to establish a healthy nighttime routine for your toddler is to establish a consistent bath time. Bath time can be a comforting way to signal to your child that it’s time to settle into sleep time. Make sure the water is warm, but not too hot. Use baby shampoo to massage your toddler’s scalp, which is relaxing for the mind and body. And be sure to use calming products, like lavender and chamomile washes, which can help your child relax while nourishing their skin.
Brush Teeth
Brushing teeth before bedtime is an important routine to start early. They need to brush twice a day, and especially before bedtime to keep cavities at bay. One of the last things to do before laying down in bed is to brush teeth. Make it fun with a few simple ideas. Find a toothbrush your child loves, and which can make brushing time more playful. Find a toothpaste with a silly name or that turns colors as they brush. When they feel like it’s fun and not a chore, it will be much easier to get them to brush and settle into bedtime.
Have Some Snuggle Time
Whether it’s your toddler or yourself, snuggle time has benefits for people of all ages. That’s because physical touch releases oxytocin and creates an emotional bond between the ones who are snuggling. Snuggling helps a child feel more connected to their parents, creates happy memories, and can reduce stress. And snuggling will help your toddler feel safe and more willing to slip into a deep sleep. It’s a great way to help your child feel a sense of safety and security as you both work toward bedtime.
Sing or Read a Book to Your Child
Doing something soothing before a bedtime is a great way to establish a calming nighttime routine for a toddler. Whether it’s singing a lullaby or reading a book for 10-20 minutes can relax your child and help them sleep more soundly. Adding one of these options into your routine can help produce melatonin in your child’s brain, which is what prepares your body to sleep. If you’re not comfortable singing, you can always play music instead. But remember that your toddler loves you and wants to hear your voice, even if you feel anxious about it.
Call PALS for Daytime Consistency in Addition to a Healthy Nighttime Routine For A Toddler
A nighttime routine for a toddler is important, yet so are daytime routines. That’s why it’s so important to enroll your child in a daycare center that will create consistency. And that’s exactly how PALS Praise & Leadership Schools were designed. PALS offers the consistency that will help your child flourish. That’s because we create the structure to help kids succeed at every stage of development. And you won’t be alone as you create the foundation for your child’s success. PALS has created a curriculum that is tailored to your child’s needs. Using consistent routines within the day, we build your child’s self-esteem, skills, and moral character. We also teach your child to think, reason, be responsible, achieve, excel, and communicate. You can rest assured that we’re helping your child thrive and grow while they’re in our care.
If you’d like to more about PALS and the ways we help your child succeed, we invite you to tour our classrooms. We offer two campuses in the Peoria area for your convenience. You can reach us at our North Peoria campus, located at 2327 W Willow Knolls Rd in Peoria IL, at 309-691-4326. Or call us at our Downtown Peoria campus, located at 700 NE Greenleaf in Peoria IL, at 309-674-2938. Schedule a tour and talk with us today to see the PALS Praise & Leadership Schools curriculum first-hand. We look forward to meeting with you.
