The reasons are many and varied, but the bottom line is:
- they don't want to miss the fun
- they don't want to be apart from you.
So we need to help them by thinking about the motivation for their behaviour rather than the behaviour itself.
Toddlers need love, guidance and someone who tries to understand them.
Actually we all need that, but often when we are tired we express it in different ways. Our job as parents is to be kind but committed at bed time.
Some tips include:
- Give your child advanced notice that it's bed time in 5 minutes
- Make sure they have some quiet time before bed
- No time on the computer, tv, ipad (any screen) for at least 30 minutes before sleep time
- Try to keep your cool. If you get grumpy how do you expect your toddler to respond?
Get more tips on reading tired signs and avoiding overtiredness.
It can be tough so be sure you speak with your nurse or another trusted source to help you stay focused on enjoying your family.
Got more questions? Book an appointment to speak with one of our baby specialists.
Author: Helen Stevens. RN. RM. MCHN. Manager of Clinical Services, Education and Research. Parent Infant Consultants. 0411880720.