Just when you thought your little one’s sleep problems were over, they’ve started waking up through the night again, as frequently as they did when they were newborns! You and your family were finally waking up rested, and now you’re all exhausted again! What do you do?

This sudden change in your child’s sleep patterns can be very normal for a toddler and is something that most parents go through. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Meeting your child’s sleeping needs can be one of the biggest challenges you face as a parent. But the payoff is so worth it!

In the same way that good nutrition is a vital part of your little one’s development, sleep is absolutely crucial for the development of their brain. When children don’t get adequate sleep, it affects their health, their behaviour, and how they learn and process information. And as we all know, the more sleep your child gets, the more sleep we get! So it’s a win-win!

Before we look at some strategies to help your toddler sleep through the night, let’s look at some common reasons why they may have started to wake up again.

What causes your toddler to wake up through the night?

You’ve changed their routine. Have you altered their sleep or nap times? Has your partner changed jobs and is now coming home at different times? Have you changed something in their diet?

You’ve switched rooms or beds. Have you switched your child’s sleeping arrangement? Have they transitioned from cot to bed or moved bedrooms?

Something in your child’s environment may have altered. Has the temperature changed in your child’s bedroom? Are they too hot or too cold? Maybe there are lighting or sound disturbances from outside. For example, your neighbour’s outdoor light could be shining in your child’s bedroom, or a dog has started barking throughout the night.

They’ve reached a new developmental milestone. Maybe they have learned a new motor skill they want to practice every chance they get. For example, walking is a huge developmental leap and something that can hugely disrupt your toddler's sleep. Especially if they’ve stood up and can’t get themselves down.

Your child may have lost their favourite toy or blanket and cannot find it.

You’ve recently returned from a family holiday. A change in location can cause sleep disturbances for your little one.

Your child is ill or recovering from an illness.

Your child is experiencing separation anxiety.

Now let’s take a look at some strategies to support your toddler to sleep throughout the night so you and your family can all wake up feeling rested!

Strategies to help your toddler sleep throughout the night

Establish a bedtime routine. Read them a story, give them a warm bath, sing them a song, or play some soothing music. Limit their playtime right before bedtime and ensure their room is the right environment for sleeping. Dim the lights and avoid using any technology before bedtime.

Keep your child away from any stimulation before bedtime. Make sure family activities before bedtime are low-key and your voices are kept soft and quiet.

If you’re giving them milk when they wake up, it’s time to wean them onto water or other liquids until they stop needing milk entirely.

If you’ve gotten used to picking your child up, try to instead soothe them verbally from a distance. They need to learn to self-soothe and put themselves back to sleep. Similarly, if your child is used to getting a lot of nighttime attention, they will gradually need to be retrained to learn how to soothe themselves.
Choose a regular bedtime. Make a note of when your child shows signs of sleepiness, and use that as the time you put your little one to bed each night. Then, depending on the age and level of understanding, discuss the time and the routine with your toddler.

Pay attention to your child’s rhythms. You’ll see that your child has certain times of the day when they feel sleepy. The quality of sleep will be a lot better if you time their naps with their natural biological cycles. If you wait until after your child has shown signs of being sleepy, they will be overtired and resist sleeping.

We know it’s hard, but there will be times when you’ll need to let your little one cry themselves to sleep. Despite what it sounds like, it will not cause harm. Remember, you have all day to show your little one how much you love them. By letting them cry, you are allowing them to learn how to soothe themselves. Don’t worry, they won’t think that you’re abandoning them or that you don’t love them; your child will know from how you treat them in the daytime that this isn’t the case. It's just their way of protesting the changes that are being made.

How do I get my 1-2-year-old to sleep?

On Unii’s Toddler Sleep Journey, we share how to get a 1 - 2-year-old to sleep.