How can I help my toddler stay content in the crib instead of yelling or crying for us when he wakes early?
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Is your toddler waking up early in the morning and/or early from naps? If so, the goal is to keep them in the crib (happily) until the desired wake-up time! Typically, toddlers who are comfortable, happy, and secure in their sleep environment will babble or play until someone comes to get them up. However, if you have a toddler who yells, screams, or cries, those early wake-ups can be brutal!
Here are some helpful tips:
First, look at the schedule and just make sure it’s age appropriate. Most toddlers are still taking 2 naps until they are 15 or 16 months old, give or take (there are exceptions!). Whether or not your toddler is taking 1 nap or 2, they should be getting about 2 to 3 hours of daytime sleep, and you want to make sure that last wake window before bedtime is not too long. An overtired toddler is more likely to wake up overnight or early in the morning! Never be afraid to move bedtime up if you suspect overtiredness (but try not to put to bed before 6:30pm!
The routine prior to naps and bedtime should be consistent and predictable.
Always wait before going in the room; don’t immediately rush in when your toddler wakes up. If fussing, let them fuss a little and see if they can settle back down, even if they aren’t going back to sleep. Every time you rush in right away, you're just reinforcing the early wake habit.
Gradually increase this “wait” time, slowly stretching their time in the crib, and give them lots of praise when you do go in to get them up!
If using a pacifier, make sure there are several scattered around the crib, so your toddler can always find one easily.
Try getting them to attach to a special lovey. Once they do, this item offers lots of comfort when they wake early, and they will often play with it happily until it’s time to get up.
If you’ve tried loveys unsuccessfully, experiment with safe and age appropriate books or toys. You can put one in their crib after they fall asleep so that they find it when they wake up. For example, soft, textured books, some sort of teething toy, a small board book, etc…
Last but not least, is your toddler falling asleep independently? If they are rocked or nursed to sleep, they will always be looking externally for assistance in getting back to sleep when they wake. So, make sure they are falling asleep on their own! If you need tips on how to do this, reach out: maggie@crescentpeaksleep.com
Keep in mind that a normal wake-up time for babies and toddlers is between 6am and 7am, and we’re always aiming for up to 12 hours of sleep (or 12 hours in the crib, even if just “resting”). But also remember that babies and toddlers are naturally in a much lighter state of sleep in those early morning hours between 4am and 6am, so when they have sleep regressions or teething, or if they’re not feeling well, they are going to stir more during those hours. IF they have a good sleep foundation and healthy independent sleep habits, they should still be able to rest or play in their crib until an appropriate wake-up time no matter the reason for waking, and this is what I strive to help all of my clients achieve! It is very possible! My kids regularly wake up around 6:00/6:15 am, but we never get them before 6:45/7:00 am, and it is a wonderful feeling to open the door and hear or see your toddler just giggling, chatting, and playing in the crib, then pop up excitedly to say “good morning!”
