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Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › Curtain Calls

Curtain Calls

Getting Toddlers to Sleep and Keeping Them In Bed

By Laura Cone

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Downey says your toddler may be crying because he or she has heartburn. Toddlers also have trouble sleeping when they have a rash or something as minor as an insect bite.

As a general rule, most toddlers need at least 10 hours of sleep, Downey says. Toddlers should sleep enough so they are not cranky, appear well-rested and not sleepy during the day.

They also need daytime naps.

"I think it's still important to have naps, as long as they are going to bed the same time and waking up the same time every day," Downey says. "It's usually not the case the naps are interfering with sleep at night. Usually it's the curtain calls that are the problem with toddlers."

The Curtain Calls
Oftentimes, toddlers make repeat appearances after going to bed because they hear activity or are curious about what the older people in the house are doing still awake. "They don't want to go to bed," Downey says. "Unlike adults, toddlers tend to not want to go to sleep. It's something they don't particularly like to do."

In addition to not drawing attention to what the adults are doing in the house, such as watching a television show or eating ice cream, don't pay too much attention to the child. "The more you pay attention to them, the more likely they are to stay awake and participate in playing with you," Downey says. "The unintended consequences are they stay awake much longer than you would like them to."

Establishing Bedtime Rituals
Downey says the first step to creating a bedtime ritual is to make the bedroom free of distractions. Don't put a television in your toddler's room and place favorite toys in the closet or out of sight.

As part of her family's bedtime ritual, Neuman says goodnight and then says prayers, sings a song and makes sure her children brush their teeth before bed.

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