Kids Sleeping Tips: Toddler Crying at Bedtime

Your daughter, at age 2, is too young for Sleep Rules, but she had some medical problems and maybe some so-so naps that caused her to get over tired (read "sleep-deprived"). If your child has recovered from the acute phase of an illness (discuss this with your pediatrician) or after a holiday, when sleep routines have been lax, for instance, try what I call a Reset. The Reset is a super-early bedtime to restore a sleep debt that accumulated when sick or traveling. After all, you want to be flexible with sleep schedules to enjoy your vacation and you want to give your child lots of attention when not feeling well. So children naturally get off track sometimes.

For one night only, the Reset is a lights-off at 5:30 pm and you totally ignore protest crying. This is a method for kids who have never had sleeping problems. A one-night-only reset is not likely to help children who have had severe or long lasting problems with sleep.

More kids sleeping tips from Dr. Weissbluth:

• Twin sleep issues
• Sleep for colicky babies
• Getting babies to fall asleep earlier
• Sleeping through the night
• When toddlers climb out of their cribs
• Getting kids to stay in bed
• Keeping kids in their own rooms
• Teaching kids to fall asleep on their own
• Naps for fussy babies
• Crying it out
• Putting kids back to bed