Teething, One of Many Things That Keep Toddlers Awake

Any parent knows that getting a toddler to fall asleep, and stay asleep, can be a daunting task. There seems to be a never ending list of things that keep toddlers awake, and parents have to find ways around each one of them.

Teething can be one of the worst ailments that may keep your little one awake.  Every child goes through teething.  The easiest solution is to use a frozen washcloth or teething toy, but they may not always calm your child.  Tylenol or OraGel are often recommend by pediatricians when simple home remedies are not enough.  Always talk with your pediatrician to find out what the best treatment is for your little one is.

Coughing from sickness can also keep your toddler awake.  This is really difficult now because the FDA recommends against giving any child under six cough medicine.  So how to stop coughing without medicine?  Where there are a number of home remedies that can help.  My mother always used hot tea and honey.

Toddlers are also sometimes kept awake by a simple abundance of energy – they are just too wired to go to sleep, or are overtired. This is about prevention; try to ensure that your toddler gets a lot of exercise early in the day, but also that they have at least a 30 minute wind-down period before bed. Also, use ritual (bath, pajamas, books) to show them that bedtime is nearing, and it’s time to wind down.

Ambient noise from outside the child’s room is obviously one distraction that can keep any toddler awake. This can be a noisy party next door, or the sound of others using the bathroom down the hall. One way to solve this problem is by using a sound machine to create white noise, which helps block out other sounds.

Finally, probably the most common of the things that keep toddlers awake is simply a desire for fun. Toddlers are smart little creatures; they know when people are downstairs having a good time. They know that they were having a fun day, certainly more fun than being in bed alone. They know what they want, and it is fun and action, not boring old sleep.

Toddlers just do not want to miss out on a thing, but of course, they have to in the name of sleep. You can make going to bed a bit easier on your toddler by providing fun distractions for them in their bedroom.

Try to find ways to make bed an interesting part of the day. This can include a ritual where Mommy or Daddy take baby to bed, reading a special book, or playing with a fun toy (one that is only for bedtime) such as a flashlight, camping light, or special stuffed toy. A flashlight that works through human skin completing the contact is a great bedtime toy, as it shuts off as soon as your little person puts it down.