Why is my toddler waking at night? How to get your toddler to sleep through the night

As a parent of a toddler, you’ve likely had your fair share of sleepless nights and bedtime battles. It is developmentally normal for a toddler to have night wakings, but when these episodes occur frequently, and when night wakings seem to last for hours, this can negatively impact the whole family’s sleep and emotional health. 

Understanding the potential reasons behind night wakings is key. Once you determine the “why”, you can start implementing strategies to help your toddler learn to self-soothe, put themselves back to sleep independently, and stay in bed until morning. With time and consistency, the frequent night wake-ups will resolve. 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

Reasons for toddler waking at night

4 tips for helping toddlers sleep through the night

Takeaway

Toddler waking at night FAQ 

Reasons for toddler waking at night

Everyone wakes during the night (even us adults!), but we're talking about situations where your toddler is not just rolling over and getting in a comfortable position, and falling back to sleep like adults do. Keep in mind that this is, instead, your toddler calling out for help in returning to sleep.

Many things can cause disrupted sleep at this age. Some might be physical causes, while others may be related to their cognitive development. Let’s take a look: 

• If a child develops an association between a specific behavior and their ability to drift off to sleep, it may result in disturbed sleep patterns.  Common sleep associations for toddlers are: using a pacifier, and having parents rock them to sleep. Parental presence is the most common sleep–onset association for toddlers [1] that can impact the ability to fall asleep or return to sleep following a naturally occurring night waking.

• Physical causes like hunger, teething pain, or illnesses like colds, allergies, or ear infections. Unfortunately, children can start to get sick frequently when they become toddlers, especially if they are around other kiddos daily. Additionally, the appearance of molars can also cause a lot of discomfort for young toddlers.

• Between bedtime resistance, and dropping and resisting their nap, toddlers are very prone to overtiredness, which in turn can cause more prolonged night waking and early rising.

• Their imagination is beginning to peak, as is their awareness about the world around them, so fears about separation or nightmares and fear of the dark and other things are common reasons for a toddler to wake up at night. 

4 tips for helping toddlers sleep through the night

While you can’t always control the reasons your toddler wakes, implementing these proactive sleep strategies can help minimize night disruptions:

Tip #1: Establish an age-appropriate, soothing, and predictable bedtime routine.

Aim for a calm and consistent bedtime routine that allows for plenty of connection time with your toddler. If possible, avoid screen time 1 - 2 hours before bedtime, as evening screentime does have an effect on night sleep [2] and can cause sleep disturbances. At this age, toddlers need around 30 - 45 minutes to wind down. Try to incorporate the routine steps in the room your toddler sleeps in rather than multiple scene changes to avoid them getting distracted. Quiet, calm activities prime their body for sleep. Include things like baths, brushing teeth, putting on PJs, reading stories, and singing songs.  

Tip #2: Make it visual! 

Toddlers & preschoolers understand concepts, transitions, and routines more easily when they are presented through visuals. Introduce a visual bedtime routine, a storybook, or cue cards with pictures that outline your sleep routine, For example, you might have a “stay in bed” card or a “close your eyes” card to show those expectations around bedtime. Using visuals not only helps your child understand what is coming but also gives them the feeling of control they seek. 

Tip #3: Ensure their schedule allows for sufficient total daily sleep.

Most toddlers and preschoolers need around 11 - 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, depending on their age. Having a consistent bedtime and healthy sleep habits will allow them to naturally wake in the morning when they are ready to do so. Most toddlers between the ages of 18 months to 3 years will take a consistent mid-day nap starting between 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, although the timing can vary depending on wake-up. Sleep regularity is one of the best strategies to promote more sleep. 

Tip #4: Encourage self-soothing habits and independence at bedtime/night.

The way a child falls asleep at night can impact the quality of sleep at night. If your child needs a lot of assistance to fall asleep, this can lead to frequent night wakings at night. Developing sleep associations with white noise or a transitional object like a stuffed animal while you work on their independence when falling asleep may help them with self-soothing habits. 

When waking at night, briefly reassure them without overstimulating. Your calm, confident presence is reassuring while still allowing them to settle independently.  It is very important to remain consistent, as toddlers are very aware of the rules and boundaries. 

It is never too late to sleep train and there are a lot of different strategies to sleep train a toddler that can align with your specific situation and parenting style. Consider submitting for a sleep plan through Huckleberry Premium if you’d like guidance tailored specifically for you and your little one.

Takeaway

Night wakings are developmentally normal for toddlers, but frequent episodes can impact the entire family's sleep and emotional well-being.

Common reasons for night wakings are:

• Sleep associations such as pacifiers and parental presence can affect a toddler's ability to self-soothe.

• Physical causes like hunger, teething, illnesses, and overtiredness can contribute to disrupted sleep.

• Growing imagination and awareness lead to fears and nightmares.

Proactive sleep strategies to consider implementing:

• A calm, consistent routine, avoiding screen time before bed, and incorporating calming activities like baths and stories can help.

• Implementing visual cues, picture-book tales, or bedtime cards can provide a sense of control and understanding for toddlers.

• Ensuring sufficient sleep in a 24-hour period, with a consistent bedtime and mid-day nap, promotes natural waking in the morning.

Implementing these proactive habits takes some effort upfront, but resolving problematic sleep behaviors now leads to restful nights for your whole family down the road. Sweet dreams!