6 Reasons Your Toddler May Be Waking at Night

• Little Regent Nursery
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6 Reasons Your Toddler May Be Waking at Night

Almost every toddler wakes in the night at some point, and almost every parent assumes they are the only one still awake at three in the morning. They are not. Night waking is a normal part of this age - but it usually has a reason, and reasons can be worked on.

Here are the six causes we hear about most often from families at the nursery.

1. The nap is in the wrong place

A nap that ends too late pushes bedtime back; one that has been dropped too early leaves a child overtired and wired. Overtiredness looks like energy, which is why it is so often missed. Small adjustments to nap timing fix a surprising number of night wakings.

2. They fall asleep one way and wake up another

Everyone surfaces briefly several times a night. A child who fell asleep being rocked, fed or held will notice that those conditions have gone and call for them back. Children who go into the cot drowsy but awake tend to resettle themselves.

3. Something changed

A new sibling, a house move, a holiday, starting nursery, a parent travelling. Toddlers process change at night. Extra connection during the day - unhurried, phone-free, ten focused minutes - often does more than anything you try at bedtime.

4. Physical discomfort

Teething, a blocked nose, a cough, reflux, an itchy eczema patch, a room that is too warm, or a nappy that is too wet. Discomfort is worth ruling out first because it is the easiest thing to fix. Persistent night waking with poor daytime appetite is always worth raising with your doctor.

5. A developmental leap

New skills disturb sleep. Children who have just learned to stand, walk or talk in sentences often practise at two in the morning. These phases are real, they are usually short, and the best response is a boring one: minimal light, minimal talk, straight back to bed.

6. Too much stimulation before bed

Screens, rough-and-tumble games and bright lights in the last hour make settling harder. Swap in a bath, dim lighting and the same two or three stories in the same order every night. Predictability is the sedative.

What helps most

One consistent wind-down sequence, a consistent bedtime, and a consistent response when they wake. Whichever approach you choose, keep it the same for at least a fortnight before deciding it has not worked. Toddlers respond to patterns, not to single good nights.

At Little Regent Nursery we keep daily records of sleeping, eating and toileting and share them with you through your child's diary, so patterns show up early. If you would like to talk through your child's rhythm with our team, get in touch.