4 things you need to know about toddler sleep

If I had been invited to a sleep powwow, three years ago I think I would have kindly declined the invitation. It’s one of those topics I really didn’t think much about before having a baby, but since Baby Girl was born it’s practically become a conversation breaker when meeting new people.

That’s why I was now very excited to travel across London to the Museum of Childhood and attend a Toddler Sleep PowWow with Worlds Apart, which has a fun range of themed toddler beds and sleep accessories. Here are some of the key points I picked up from the event with children’s sleep expert Mandy Gurney:

Consider sleep cycles
Children go into deep sleep after 10 minutes, and it’s best to wake children at the end of a 45-minute sleep cycle

Assess pre-nap routines
Before naptime, it’s useful to wind down and follow a pre-nap routine, such as reading a book or singing a song, to help little ones take their naps

Avoid late naps
It’s best to ensure toddlers who nap during the day are awake by 3pm in the afternoon. It’s natural to have a dip in alert levels after lunch, and if they fall asleep in the buggy or in the car, 10-minute power naps are best if it’s after 3pm

Get bathtime right
At bathtime, it can be useful to dim the light in the bathroom to wind down, and it’s ideal to have a five-minute bath. A bath is considered to be more relaxing than a shower and is better suited for a bedtime routine

We’ve received Peppa Pig GoGlow from Worlds Apart (pictured above) to try, and I’ve found having this night light has been really useful at bedtime. I turn it on when turning the light off in the room, and I keep it on while I put Baby Girl in her bed and read a final short story.

Tags: Bedtime, Growing up, Lunchtime nap, Museum of Childhood, Sleep, Sleep deprivation, Toddler, Worlds Apart