I’m excited to share a little secret: my little one has been sleeping through the night! It’s been a few months now, and I’ve hesitated to say it out loud, convinced that mentioning it might jinx the peaceful nights. However, after realizing it’s been ages since the last nighttime wake-up, I think it’s safe to celebrate. If you’re struggling with your restless toddler, I’ve crafted a detailed guide to help you on this journey. Just follow these steps, and in about two and a half years, your child might be sleeping soundly as well!
- When your baby turns five months, initiate a dream feed around 11 PM. Pick up your sleepy bundle and attempt to feed him while wrestling with the idea that you might be a bit crazy. Overdo it in your efforts to rouse him, and then spend the next hour trying to soothe him back to sleep.
- Give it another shot the following night—after all, one bad experience doesn’t define the journey.
- Rinse and repeat.
- By six months, you might think that one parent’s snoring is disturbing the baby’s sleep. Move your little one to his own room with the hope of blissful nights ahead.
- At 3 AM, groggily trek down the hall to retrieve the crying baby, regretting the move to his own space. You’ll find yourself doing this repeatedly and ultimately bringing him back to your bed, just like before, while enduring some face kicks.
- The next night, convince yourself that last night was a fluke; let him sleep in his own room once again.
- During another nighttime visit at 3 AM, you’ll step on a Lego and whisper curse words while trying to keep the noise down so you don’t wake the older siblings.
- This nightly routine continues for quite some time, as you cling to the idea that snoring was the culprit. After all, disassembling the crib feels like admitting defeat.
- After months of these late-night escapades, develop a brilliant plan to set up a travel crib next to your bed for easier access after the first wake-up.
- Quickly realize that your baby despises the travel crib after several attempts and abandon this idea.
- Conclude that his little feet are too warm. Of course! That must be why he’s waking up. Grab some scissors and cut out the feet of all his sleep suits.
- Go to bed filled with hope for a full night’s rest.
- At 3 AM, pick up the crying baby and bring him back to bed, feeling somewhat amused by his adorable cut-off sleep suits while trying to dodge more face kicks.
- Download a toddler sleep tracking app to decipher this week’s wakefulness. Last week’s crankiness was explained, but this week remains a mystery.
- Consider that the early morning sunlight might be waking him and rush out to purchase blackout curtain lining, despite the little voice reminding you, “the sun doesn’t rise at 3 AM?”
- Carefully attach the blackout lining to your curtains, only to realize you’ve done it backward. After some colorful language, you redo the lining and hang the curtains, eagerly anticipating sweet slumber.
- When the baby cries at 3 AM, you’ll bang your knee against the crib in the dark, but you’ll persevere with the blackout curtains, convinced they’ll eventually work.
- Fast forward to 18 months; desperation sets in. You scour sleep forums and Google “my toddler won’t sleep.” Discover the concept of bimodal sleep but realize there’s not much you can do about it.
- A friend suggests white noise as a solution. Download a white noise app, charge your phone, and prepare for the night.
- At 3 AM, rush into the room with phone in hand, fumbling through the darkness to activate the app. Set it down next to the crib, and watch as the white noise works its magic—he’s calmed down!
- Just as you think you’ve succeeded, the baby’s super-hearing kicks in, and he starts crying again. Resign yourself to your new role as a white noise observer.
- At two years old, transition him from a crib to a bed. When he wakes up, climb into his bed with him. Notice that the face-kicking has lessened.
- Eventually, bravely shift to sitting on the floor beside his bed when he awakens. Get comfy with a cushion and consider bringing in a small fridge for drinks and a reading light if necessary.
- Stick to this routine for as long as it takes—even if it stretches over four months. With time, sleep will find you both.
And there you have it! Follow these steps, and at two and a half years, your child could be sleeping soundly through the night. Or maybe not—no promises here!
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Summary:
This guide provides humorous, relatable steps for parents trying to get their toddlers to sleep through the night. It covers everything from dream feeds to the challenges of transitioning from a crib to a bed, all while emphasizing the ups and downs of the parenting journey.