Q. Recently, I’ve noticed that my daughter had changed her sleeping habits. She now goes to sleep at around 10 p.m. and wakes up at 6 a.m. and she only takes 1 hour nap during daytime. There are also days that she would wake up at around 3 a.m. even though she went to bed late at night.

Girlie Marlyn E. Arce

In my experience, I think babies’ sleep schedules can change every so often. But for as long as toddlers are still getting a good 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night, plus naptime – then your baby is doing fine. Naps can be anywhere from one-and-half hours to three, but I wouldn’t call the Navy Seals if my child was just taking an hour of naptime.

Some kids need more time for naps than others. Adjusting the clock and scheduling when she would start sleeping depends largely on what daily activities you make for her. Middle-of-the-night habits & changing sleep schedules have a lot to do with how you put your baby to bed in the first place.

Now, here is what you can do to make your toddler hit the sack early (and easily) every night. I got this from an article that I loved so much in PARENTING magazine, “And to all a good night” by Paula Spencer.
On occasion, tucking my active son into bed can take grueling hours. After I’ve read “The Tickly Octopus” for the 4,894th time and with all the stalling tactics, it seems like months before I can get my own sleep. Some phrases turn into a whole new word, like, “Okthat’sitnomoregettingoutofbedIsaidgotosleep!” Ever been in this situation before? If not, then it could be coming at you. I know many parents who can relate to this.

On a good night, I finish my rounds feeling pooped and beat. On a typical night with a newly-born baby, I’m exhausted, attending to my baby’s whimper over wet diapers, and my son’s complaint about lost blankies. In other instances, I’m listening to what appears to be my son’s creative strategies like this for example: “I wanted to tell you that you’re sexy, Mama.”

1. Make it sweet, consistent and flexible

Bedtime routines should be like pudding: sweetly wholesome, rich in consistency, and a little wobbly. Routines should first be calming. This means, you activities should be the relaxing type like reading, as opposed to pre-bed gymnastics. Routines should make your child feel good. This is why parents give their kids warm bath, a glass of milk, a back scratch.

There should also be consistency and order. When kids know what’s coming next, it helps them feel more secure, which in turn makes them more agreeable. And what’s the wobbly part? Make it flexible. Give yourself and your child some room to wiggle. Change the schedule. Add activities. Cut some. Skip the bath if he’s not dirty or read five books instead of just three if you feel like it.

2. Start earlier than you’d think

Don’t wait for the official “bedtime” call if your goal if you want to stick to the routine. Actually, come to think of it, “bedtime” actually starts 12 hours before your child’s first yawn. Kids are just like those wind-up toys that keeps on going and going.

They start the day with a specific energy level that must be expended before they can call themselves tired. Too bad, if your child didn’t have the chance to run, jump, and wriggle. Rainy day? Too-long nap? That happens but beware, they— you included— will likely be up all night.

3. Be the leader, not the follower

Limit the activities for the nightly routine .Choose the parts your child likes best and every night or two, cut out some. For example, it’s easier when I casually announce to Jacobo what the evening’s menu is from the get go: “All right! Time for bath, then pj’s, then Mama will lay down with you to read you a story.” If your child wants something changed, stand firm. A complicated bedtime is like any bad habit: Once you start it, only perseverance can make it stop.

4. Watch the clock

Stay firm against all the things that can knock you off your schedule– the errant tantrum, the ill-timed phone call, a sibling squall. Fight the urge to give in and just let them be because once you do that,  they’ll expect it to become a new routine the next day. When that happens,  it will take them twice as long to settle.

I give myself a pat on the back whenever I would look at the clock and see 8:30 p.m. Although I cheated on my diet again today and still haven’t read my scripts; at least I’ve accomplished one goal: They’re asleep!

Reference: “And to all a good night” Paula Spencer, PARENTING magazine, September 2008