30 Simple Steps to Sleep Train Your Toddler

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I absolutely adore my little one! He’s, as they say, “practically perfect in every way.” He’s sweet, affectionate, curious, and he gives the best hugs. But, there is one tiny issue… he’s a terrible sleeper.

It might be because he hasn’t quite figured out how to self-soothe and seems to think I’m his personal snack bar. When he wakes up and realizes I’m not there, he has no idea what to do other than cry. (Sorry, guys, but this sounds pretty typical, doesn’t it?)

Now that he’s nearly 19 months old, and my sleep has been a distant memory for the last, oh, 28 months, I’ve decided it’s time to take charge and embark on a sleep training adventure. Here’s my 30-step strategy for sleep training my toddler:

1. Tuck him in at his usual bedtime, following our regular routine (rocking and nursing—if he’s cozy enough, maybe he’ll sleep through the night).
2. Stick to my nightly routine, which typically finds me in bed around 2:00 a.m.
3. Get all snuggly in bed, adjusting until I find that perfect position.
4. Begin to doze off and just touch the edge of REM sleep.
5. Wait, is that a baby crying? Yep, definitely a baby crying.
6. Receive a nudge from my husband, “The baby is crying.”
7. Unwrap myself from my cozy covers, preparing to get up while he suggests, “Just let him cry.”
8. Cover back up and stare at the ceiling, listening to my baby wail.
9. Twenty minutes later, I’m fuming while my husband snores away and the baby is now screaming, “Mommy! Mooooom!”
10. Get up, sneak out, and close the bedroom door so I don’t wake my husband.
11. Shut all the other bedroom doors to ensure no other little ones wake up.
12. Stand by the baby’s door, willing him to stop crying.
13. After nearly dozing off while standing, I decide to lay in the hallway to listen.
14. Start to drift off again, only to be jolted awake by a cramp in my hip from the hard floor.
15. Realize the baby is now full-on sobbing.
16. Think, “Forget this!” and head into his room.
17. I plan to just shush him, give a gentle pat, and leave, but I melt when he smiles and reaches for me, saying “Mommy!”
18. Scoop him up and melt into his sweet toddler hug.
19. Stand rocking him gently until his head drops on my shoulder.
20. Convinced he’s asleep, I carefully lay him back in the crib.
21. Yell, “Oh no!” and dash out of the room when he pops back up.
22. Slink back down the hall, shut the door, and bury my head under blankets.
23. Realize I can still hear him yelling, “MOMMY!!”
24. Hear my 9-year-old in the hallway, and panic that the baby might wake everyone.
25. Throw off the blankets with a heavy sigh.
26. Run into my 9-year-old, who says, “Mom, the baby wants you.”
28. Totally give in by picking up my toddler, getting comfy in the rocking chair, and nursing him to sleep. Ouch, my butt!
29. Accept that this routine might continue until he’s in kindergarten or I can afford to hire a sleep expert.
30. Finally put him down, fast asleep, and sneak out as the sun rises, reminding myself, he’s only little for a little while. Who cares? Not me. Not really.

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Summary:

Sleep training a toddler can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for parents. This light-hearted guide shares a relatable 30-step process that many parents may find familiar, capturing the struggle and love that comes with nighttime routines.