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Home › Articles › Toddlers › Watching the Clock

Watching the Clock

Could a strict bedtime be the answer to your over-tired toddler's mood swings?

By Lisa Hurt Kozarovich

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Another key, Schaenen says, is to develop a relaxing and enjoyable bedtime routine. "We cuddle, read a book, talk about the day. Some people light a candle, then blow it out when the story is over. You can create a really ritualistic and beautiful atmosphere."

Of course, once you get your child to sleep, keeping him there can be another story. In a study in the August 1994 edition of The Medical Journal of Australia, researchers reported that 49 percent of babies 12 months and under wake at least once or twice a night. Between the ages of 2 and 3, that number was still at 41 percent. The most common reason for those night wakings, according to the study, was one of the following: Pain due to teething or earaches; discomfort from being too cold, too hot, being thirsty or having a wet bed; separation anxiety; and not knowing how to fall back to sleep on their own.

Even with those night wakings, children and parents can get plenty of rest if they follow some tips from the American Academy of Family Physicians. For example, when you change or feed your baby, don't turn the lights on or overstimulate him in other ways, and don't let him sleep for large blocks of time during the day. Allow toddlers to take a favorite toy or blanket to bed with them; make sure the temperature is comfortable in their room; and leave a night-light on or the door ajar to make them feel safer.

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