Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

How to train your toddler to sleep through the night on their own

By

If you’re a parent struggling to train your toddler to sleep through the night, rest assured you’re not alone. Lots of parents have trouble getting their children to sleep through the night. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to help — like making a toddler-friendly bedtime routine or experimenting with sleeping methods — so don’t give up just yet.

Here are some techniques you can employ to help your little one get a good night’s sleep.

Baby sleeping in crib with Teddy bear
Tatyana Soares / Shutterstock

How to create a toddler-friendly bedtime routine

Children thrive on consistency and routines. That’s why making a bedtime routine about 30-60 minutes before their bedtime is often a crucial part of getting toddlers to sleep through the night. Here are a few quick tips you can try for their nightly routine.

Recommended Videos

Start with a warm bath

Warm water can relax your little one, especially if they’re still excited and energized from the day’s activities. Make sure you’re speaking softly and calmly during their bedtime routine so they can see your relaxed behavior and emulate it.

Related

Get them dressed and brush their teeth

Once your toddler is dried off, dress them in cozy pajamas. You’ll also want to brush their teeth, gums, and tongue, too, during this part of the routine.

Make sure they go to the bathroom

It’s very important to make sure your toddler uses the bathroom before bed, especially if they’re out of diapers or you’re in the process of potty training them. Slowly but surely, they’ll get used to going to the bathroom before bed every night.

Try some quiet time

Some toddlers still want to continue playing or running around, even after the first three steps. If that’s the case, it’s time for some quiet time. Playing right before bed makes it much harder for your little one to get shut eye. Instead of grabbing a device like an iPad or turning on the TV, do a quiet activity like:

  • Reading a book together
  • Tucking in your toddler’s stuffed animals or getting them ready for bed
  • Doing a quick puzzle
  • Singing a lullaby
  • Check out their bedroom environment

If your toddler’s room is too hot or if the curtains are open and letting in a lot of light, you’ll want to fix these things. You want their bedroom environment to be as cool, calming, and comfortable as possible.

You can also try using white noise to help them go to sleep, like the sound of rain, waves crashing on a beach, or crickets.

toddler sleeping
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sleep training methods you can try

In addition to implementing a toddler-friendly bedtime routine, there are also several sleep training methods you can experiment with to help your little one sleep.

Camping it out

If your toddler is used to sleeping in your bed, but it’s time for them to transition to their own bed, you can try the “camp it out” method. After their bedtime routine, tuck them into their own bed and consider sleeping in the room with them, on an air mattress, for a few nights.

Once your toddler begins to get more comfortable, you might stay in the room until they fall asleep and then leave to sleep in your own bedroom. Eventually, you’ll be able to tuck them in and head back to your own bedroom with no problem at all.

Crying it out

Another option is to let them “cry it out.” Although it’s tough, with this technique you won’t smother them with hugs and kisses. Instead, you don’t come back into their bedroom even if they start to cry or scream. It’s OK to poke your head in and reassure them by telling them they’re all right and that you love them.

This technique isn’t easy, but it’s often worth it for some parents who are at their wit’s end trying to get their toddler to sleep through the night.

Fading

The fading method might be a bit easier for parents, but it’s similar to the “crying it out” technique. You can calm them down, but you’ll leave afterward. If they cry again, you can come back in again, reassure them, and go once more. You’ll repeat this until they fall asleep for good. Eventually, they’ll become accustomed to sleeping in their own room.

Essentially, you’ll tuck your toddler in like normal after their bedtime routine. If they start crying, wait at least five minutes before going back into their room.

Getting your toddler to sleep through the night might be a challenge at first, but it’s not impossible. Even if the routine doesn’t seem to be sticking, keep trying. Eventually, their bedtime routine will click, and they’ll be able to sleep through the night.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
NewFolks
NewFolks
Toddlers and tantrums: Why they strip when upset
How to handle this common toddler behavior
Angry toddler in pink

Toddlers are no strangers to temper tantrums, but parents may find themselves at their wit's end trying to figure out why their toddlers behave the way they do when they throw a tantrum. The toddler years are full of developmental milestones, which can cause some extremely big feelings. Toddlers often find themselves overwhelmed by all the new things they constantly learn and sometimes struggle to express themselves. Sometimes, these emotions are cute or even a little funny, but during full-blown tantrums, those same emotions can be far from amusing.

From holding their breath to kicking and screaming, our littles express their anger in a variety of ways. Sometimes, these behaviors may seem unconventional. For instance, some toddlers take their clothes off when they are angry. Like mini Hulks, your toddler’s anger may boil until they can't contain themself and the clothes come off.

Read more
Should you be concerned if your toddler walks on their toes? Experts weigh in
When to call your doctor about your toddler's toe-walking
Toddler sitting down with toes pointing towards camera

Walking is a developmental milestone that is exciting not just for parents but for your little one as well. There's a sense of independence your child will gain once they begin walking that opens up a whole new world of exploration. And once your little one has gone from crawler to walker and has their legs firmly beneath them, you may notice another development — toe-walking.

While it may seem like your new walker is destined for stardom as a ballerina, there could be an underlying physiological or developmental cause for why toddlers walk on their toes; instead of just a quirky preference. Here are just a few reasons your little one might toe-walk and what you can do about it.
Why toddlers walk on their toes

Read more
We love these boys’ fade haircut ideas (and your kid will, too)
From toddlers to teens, a boys' fade hairdo could be the new style your child loves
A boy with a faded haircut wearing headphones

We get so excited about all the options for haircuts for girls, that sometimes the boys' styles get overlooked. A clean, neat haircut can raise confidence and show off his adorable face, which is slowly changing into the young man he is becoming. Don't worry — no bowl cuts here, just popular and unique cuts that use the fade to bring out your child's personality. Find a boys' fade haircut to fit your child's style or go for something new to see how it fits when you give these cuts a try.
Basic boys' fade haircuts

Classic short undercut
One of the most versatile and easiest fades is the undercut. It looks cool, is easy for parents and kids to maintain, and offers a bit of flexibility in styling. If the top is shorter, you could spike it up or style it to the side if the hair is left a bit longer.
Taper fade
If your child wants something a little more basic but can look put together in just a few seconds of styling, the taper fade leaves you with a few options. It's a classic cut but with an effortless edge to it, where the fade starts at the bottom but seamlessly blends into the hair early on, leaving the rest of the head to be styled how you want.
French crop
This cut is for the child with a little more edge and personality. It's still a low-key cut with little maintenance to style it, but its endless looks are modern and fresh. Start with the classic French crop cut, and then add a high fade to the sides and back. This will give more attention to the top, which you could leave longer, slick back, or cut shorter and spiked.
Faded buzz cut
Every boy in the '90s and 2000s had a buzz cut. Now, there is a modern twist on that old military cut your child can try on. It still gives a clean look but adds a layer with the fade on the sides. If your child doesn't like to get ready in the mornings, this cut will save everyone time while still leaving him looking sharp.
The pompadour
The pompadour is such an adorable cut that dresses up any look when styled with a bit of product. Throw in a fade on the sides and back, and you have the ultimate look. The classic sweep and slick back of the pompadour clean up any kiddo, but the added fade along the edges is a fresh take.
Faded comb over
Don't worry -- no one will look older than their years with this faded comb-over look. It's a cute take on the original comb over, with the fade blending into the section that gets combed over. Add a shaved line at the part where you have the longer hair on top to the side to bring the homage home.
Faded side part
Close to the fade comb over, the faded side part works so well with kids who have a natural part on the side. It gives the natural lay of the hair a style that can be done in seconds, which is great for kids and parents, and plays off how the hair goes normally. Keep the top as short or long as you want and do a higher fade on the side of the part to allow for quick styling.
Faded mohawks

Read more