Toddler in a bed

Transcript

Narrator: Before attempting any responsive settling technique it is important to follow sids and kids guidelines by always placing your baby on their back to sleep.

This video shows an approach to settling toddlers at bedtime. It's important to have a routine for toddlers around their bedtime, be persistent and consistent with the way you settle and ensure to set limits that are realistic to both you and your toddler.

As with every responsive settling technique the first step is to look for your toddler's tired cues. It's important to create a calm and comfortable sleeping environment and ensure your toddler's need to be met before attempting to settle them.

Nurse: How you feeling? We've had morning tea so he's had something to eat and drink. Have you noticed to be throwing any tired signs yet?

Mum: Yeah he's been yawning and rubbing his eyes and he's getting tired.

Nurse: Typical of his own that's what you'd normally pick up on for tired behaviour. So what was what's your plan now to try and get him to wine down a little bit so we're getting into the bed?

Mum: Sit down with him and reading some books.

Nurse: Lovely. So what we'd figure to do now is try and calm him a little bit before we put him in the bed. So usually we'd recommend just a story something calm like that we wouldn't say screentime your TV or iPad or whatever. Just a quiet story with you. So it's a bit of quality time with you. He feels safe and then we can talk about the settling. If you're happy to read him a book now and then we'll put him in the bed and it's important that you match your words with what you're going to do so he understands what's happening. But also to tell him what he's feeling I know you're tired and acknowledging that he's tired.

Mum: Now Riley after this book we're going to go to bed.

Let's move forward

Nurse: How you going? It's probably enough now that we think that it's alright. Where's your blankie? Good boy.

Mum: Can you get ready for bed? Up into bed. Yes.

Nurse: There you go. Don't you sweetheart. Please ask him again.

Mum: Up into bed.

Nurse: Okay so if he doesn't do himself then you have to do step up and you've actually put him in the bed.

Mum: Love you.

Nurse: Time for bed. Need to stay on the bed Riley. And you tell lie down and go to sleep.

Mum: Lie down on your pillow. It is time to sleep.

Nurse: That's it lie down and on the bed. If he rolls around on bud still on the bed we are ok with that. So we'll just sit and wait.

Let's move forward

Nurse: Because we don't want to pat him to sleep and then we'll just stand up. I'll just stand quietly don't need to keep talking.

Mum: I think he is asleep.

Nurse: I think he's to. You are done very well. So seeing just staying calm, reassuring him gradually it really didn't look like he was gonna settle he's calmed right down because he's picked up on how you're responding to him. So boy used to in calm it's helped him to come and he's gone to sleep. Well done. That's all your doing.

Let's take a step back

Narrator: If your toddler doesn't settle it's important to stay calm. Prompt them to get back into bed. Remind them that it is sleep time and continue to provide comforting reassurance.

Nurse: He's not really calming, is he? So we've done everything that we can he's gonna need a little bit more reassurance now. It's important for you to stay calm as well. So yeah he's hoping off the bed. So just go back in pick him up. Ask him first actually say hop back on the bed Riley it's sleep time. If he doesn't then just pick him up place him back on the bed. Lie down it's time for sleep Riley. You're okay so you are reassuring.

Narrator: For the first 12 to 24 hours sit beside or at the end of the bed ignoring your toddler's demands until they go to sleep. Over the next 24 to 48 hours sit further from the bed until you were sitting outside the room until they are asleep.

Let's take a step back

Narrator: If your toddler still refuses to settle and the behavior escalates remember to stay calm.

Mum: He's not settling.

Nurse: He is not and that's hard to listen to isn't it? So you probably need to be reassuring him as much as he needs you to reassure him. Okay so it's about you. So what I suggest is at this time think about your boy what am I going to do? So you've got a little plan it helps you to stay calm. Again and that's really important okay. So just go in now pick him up. Give him a cuddle. Reassurance it's okay right or from a little bit of water change it nappy and then without keep going. So tell him again it's bedtime and you're tired you need to go to sleep all right. Okay so just you know don't rush it. Take your time because we want it to be a calm reassuring time that will support him to sleep okay. Off you go.

Let's give him that reassurance.

Let's take a step back

Narrator: If your toddler won't stay in bed despite you being there consider standing in the doorway and return your toddler to bed each time they get out of the bed. If your toddler continues to get out of the bed consider a child safety gate and return frequently to give clear instructions and reassurance. Some parents may choose to close their child's door for short periods of time. If you choose to shut your child's door ensure their sleep area is safe.

For daytime settling if your toddler is awake for longer than 45 to 60 minutes and is not calming down check if their nappy is clean, offer them a drink of water and a cuddle.

At this stage abandoned settling, you may be able to attempt another sleep if your toddler is very tired but may have to consider an earlier night time routine if this is not the case. For night time settling if your toddler is awake for longer than thirty to sixty minutes and is not calming down the same principles apply; check their nappy is clean, offer a drink of water and a cuddle. You should also try to maintain low light levels and limit conversation. Continue with these settling techniques until around 5 a.m. and then restart the daily routine.

Keep in mind the toddler in a bed settling method is suggested as a guide only. Each time you begin to settle your toddler consider how you are both coping. If your toddler doesn't settle to sleep you may need to have a break from trying to get them to sleep. Always ensure that your toddler is safe.