Myth # 3 Toddlers should be sleeping through the night .
You ’ ve finally made it through those bleary-eyed , sleep-deprived months of infancy , and you ’ re thinking that , any day now , your toddler will start sleeping through the night . It ’ s understandable that you ’ re desperate for a good night ’ s sleep , but you may have to wait a little longer .
Lots of factors lead to sleep disruptions for toddlers . One is the natural cycles of sleep . Young children have more sleep cycles than adults , meaning they are likely to wake more often . In addition , they have more REM cycles , which means they have more dream time . This , of course , could mean that your child has frequent nightmares . Their sleep may also be disrupted by teething , separation anxiety , fears , or big transitions such as potty training , transition to a toddler bed , welcoming a sibling , etc .
The best course of action is to stay as consistent as possible with a nap and bedtime schedule , develop a good , soothing routine , and try to help bridge the gap for toddlers who suffer from separation anxiety . Bridging the gap means that you find ways to help them feel close to you during this separation and always make a connection to the next time you ’ ll see them . For example , you might give your child a special item to sleep with , such as your tee shirt , and say “ I look forward to seeing you in the morning . I will stop by and check on you in 10 minutes .” You might leave a paper heart each time you check on her , and once she falls asleep , leave a handful of paper hearts by her bed so that she ’ ll know you ’ ve been close when she wakes .
The toddler years are a precious time in childhood . We do it an injustice by preparing ourselves to “ battle ” with our babies . No one benefits from power struggles , and negative assumptions about behavior weaken our relationships with our children . By understanding developmental stages , we can see the best in our kids and come alongside them to guide them through these years with love and compassion . •
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