It’s 2 am on a weekday, and you’re fast asleep. Wrapped up in the warm duvet, you’re off in the clouds somewhere, dreaming some kind of blissful dream. That is until you’re awakened by the shrill, high-pitched sound of screaming in the distance.

A few minutes pass. The screaming continues, and you completely wake up. You sit up in bed, shake your partner and let them know that it’s happening again.

This has been your routine every night this week. Although you have been putting your little one to bed at what you consider to be the right time, like clockwork, they’re still waking up during the night and also needing regular naps during the daytime.

Why is it important to improve your child’s sleep routine?

Parents, we understand that situations like these can be distressing. Not only are you worried about your little one’s health, but their fragmented sleep patterns are starting to interfere with the activities for the day. You’re tired; they’re tired; everyone’s tired!

Listen, we’ve all been there. Trying to navigate your child’s sleep can be challenging, especially when transitioning through the toddler stage. However, it’s very important that you do find a way to navigate these situations. Not just for your toddler's sake but for the whole family. You see, if you properly schedule and follow a tighter routine when it comes to sleep, you’ll be able to create a much healthier sleep routine for your child and ensure your family’s routine stays uninterrupted.

Remember, with a little planning; there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel!

Now that we’ve delved into why it’s so important that you take control of your toddler’s sleep patterns, here’s a guide you could potentially follow, which might help you better control these issues:

How can I change my child’s schedule to better my toddler’s sleep?

	6-12 months	12-18 months	18-24 months	2-3.5 years	3.5-5 years
7 am	Milk	Milk/Water	Water	Water	Water
8 am	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
8:30 am	Breakfast	Breakfast
9 am	Nap 1-2 hours	Nap 30-60 minutes
10 am	Milk stopping as solids take over	Snack/Drink	Snack/Drink	Snack/Drink	Snack/Drink
11 am
12 noon	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:30 pm		Nap 2-3 hours…	Nap 2 hours	Nap 1-2 hours
1 pm	Nap 1.5-2 hours	…Or nap here
2.30 pm/3 pm	Milk	Milk/Snack	Snack/Drink	Snack/Drink	Snack/Drink
4.30/5.30 pm	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
6 pm	Bath	Bath	Bath
6.30 pm	Milk	Milk	Milk	Bath
6.45 pm	Story and bed			Milk	Bath
7 pm		Story and bed	Story and bed	Story and bed	Milk
7.30 pm					Story and bed

Remember, this is simply a guide, designed to give you the freedom to input your own variations. For example, the need children have for naps will differ from child to child. And while some toddlers may have stopped needing milk feeds by twelve or eighteen months, others may continue to have milk at bedtime until three years old. Depending on where your child is when it comes to these points, you can change the timetable to what you think is most suitable. However, please keep in mind that whatever changes you want to make, each child up until three years of age usually still requires at least one daytime nap.

Another point to remember is that the Covid 19 Pandemic meant major changes to daily life, so it's understandable if your child is still feeling the after-effects of this and is having a difficult time adjusting sleep-wise. With many children not going to school, parents on furlough, and others working from home, if things feel a bit all over the place – don’t over-worry. Schedules and boundaries will naturally come back together in time.

What schedules and routines help my toddler to sleep?