Toddlerhood itself has a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to feeding and sleeping. Those 2 must work together. But MUST is easier said than done. When you started solids at 6 months you actually (in most cases) felt, wow my baby opens their mouth and eats, easy! Forwarding a few months on between 12 and 18 months feeding becomes a whole new ball game and so does sleep, WHY?
Between the ages of 12 and 18 months (the beginning of toddlerhood) there is a lot of development happening, from moving to speech and also in some cases starting to test the boundaries. In this precious time when your child is developing, the brain is really stimulated and most often over-stimulated resulting in sleep issues or less sleep or in some cases NO SLEEP. This is what you call a sleep regression. Suddenly your baby goes from a well routined baby into a baby that does not settle, wakes up frequently and wakes up very early. Not to mention fighting naps. And so all of this snow balls and your child also struggles to eat and is very frustrated. If you are reading this and you are not yet at this stage and this sounds horrible and you fear for the worse, don’t be discouraged. There is way’s you can tackle this while you are in it or before you go through it. Here is my tips to help you through it:
– Make sure you have a set bedtime routine every night
– Eliminate night feeds rather offer comfort
– Toddlers need 12 hours night sleep and a 12 hour day (with a nap midday)
– Make sure your baby gets enough protein
– Don’t settle for early wake ups, rather treat it as if it's still night
– Consider working with a gentle sleep consultant for sleep training that suits your needs.
– No screen time 2 hours before going to bed.
Remember that if you tackle these few pointers, it is not a quick fix. Everything you teach your toddler must be done in a consistent manner and also for not less than 10 days. We all are looking for ways to let our toddlers sleep through the night. Not all toddlers can just sleep through when you want them to. Some still need comfort and a feed. It all depends on your situation.
You have to make peace that your child will go through regressions up until the age of 3 years. The question is how do you bounce back? Good sleep habits build a positive parent-child attachment and encourage a strong bond.