The Perfect Toddler Sleep Environment
Setting up a calm sleep environment is a great way to help your baby sleep great from day 1. But what about toddlers? Though bedtime might look a bit different and they may not even be in a crib anymore, there are still ways to make your toddler’s bedroom a perfect space for sleep and bedtime!
As always, safety is key!
As children grow from infants to toddlers, we can introduce things that were previously unsafe for babies- such as blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. But there are still some important safety considerations we want to keep in mind for setting up a safe space, whether your little one is still in their crib, or in a toddler bed.
If your toddler is in a crib: Once a child reaches the age of 12 months, they can now use a small pillow, blanket, and have a stuffed animal in their crib. Make sure if they do use any of these, that they can’t be used to help them climb out of the crib. Make sure the crib is away from outlets, blind cords, or anything unsafe that they can grab.
If your toddler is in a bed: Toddler-proof the whole room. Mount all furniture to the wall, put up blind cords, and make sure there aren’t any toys or craft supplies that you wouldn’t want your child to use while unattended (looking at you, markers…)
Consider introducing a night light or an Ok-to-Wake clock.
Even though dark rooms are helpful for sleep quality, toddlers have wild imaginations and sometimes experience separation anxiety at night. Toddlers generally start expressing a fear of the dark around the age of 2.5. Having a small nightlight can help them to feel more at ease in their sleep space. If you do use a night light, try one that has a dim amber or red light, and make sure it’s far enough away from their bed.
Using a toddler clock or an “ok-to-wake” clock, is a nightlight/alarm clock combo where you can set the hours for nighttime and daytime. For example, you set the clock to bedtime at 8pm, and the light turns red. You set wakeup time to 7am, and at 7am the light turns green. This can be a super useful tool for setting expectations for nighttime and wake up time.
Introduce a comfort item.
Toddler years are the perfect time to introduce an item that like a blanket or stuffed animal that a toddler can have to cuddle in the middle of the night or bedtime if they wake up. Pro tip: a t-shirt of a parent or an item that smells like them can be a game changer!
Include a small play area in their room.
This tip might be surprising to hear, but there are a couple of reasons I suggest this when considering a great sleep environment for toddlers and young children!
First, incorporating 5-10 minutes of play into bedtime routine is a great idea when it comes to helping a child feel emotionally connected to their parents. This can help “fill their emotional bucket” and help to prevent bedtime resistance and make it easier for them to fall asleep at night.
The second reason a play space can be helpful is for early morning wakeups. Once a child is out of their crib, there’s not much stopping them from leaving their room and coming to find their parents if they wake up at 5:30/6am. While we can’t necessarily control what time they wake up in the morning, we CAN create boundaries for what they can do if they wakeup before their family’s desired time. Having a space they can safely play in can help keep them in their room so their family can continue to get a few more minutes of uninterrupted sleep! (The aforementioned toddler clock can help enforce this kind of boundary!)
Creating a toddler's sleep space with safety, comfort, and a bit of fun can really boost their sleep quality and bedtime routine. By designing a room that meets their growing needs and makes them feel secure, you're setting your child up for healthy sleep habits that will benefit them for years to come.
If you’ve set up the perfect sleep space for your little one and are still struggling with bedtime battles, night wakeups, or early morning wakeups, let’s touch base! Book your free 15-minute discovery call today!
♡︎Cara
