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Bedtime for Toddlers
10 Steps to Sleep Without Tears
By Dr. Laura Markham
10. Start slow.
Begin (after your bedtime routine) by holding your child until he falls asleep – not lying down, which puts you in danger of falling asleep. Use the time to meditate, if you can, or think of something delightful that you can look forward to. The next phase is to touch, but not hold, your child. Then, begin to sit next to your child while he falls asleep, without touching him. Finally, sit farther and farther away (with a good book and a flashlight if he can handle the light), until you're outside the bedroom door. Another variation on this process is to move quietly around the room, straightening up or folding laundry, while your toddler falls asleep. This provides a sense of security, without him depending on your physical proximity. Eventually, you'll find that your toddler is asleep almost as soon as his head settles on the pillow – and you'll be amazed to find you actually have an evening!
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