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When you become a new parent, you try hard to get everything right. From their feeding schedules to their sleep schedules, you try your best to be perfect, and most of the time, it works. You might be a mess, but your baby’s needs are taken care of in every way, and that’s what makes you the best parent your child could ever ask for. But as they start growing up, things slowly change. You no longer have control over everything. They might refuse to eat, sleep or even drink water, and there’s probably nothing you can do about it. You know exactly what we’re talking about if your kid has reached that dreadful age of being uncontrollable — a toddler!
Once your child becomes a toddler, there are some things you just cannot get them to do, and putting them to sleep is one of those things. Singing lullabies, reading them bedtime stories, and humming tunes to get them to sleep don’t always work, and we are here to tell you how to avoid fighting with your child who refuses to sleep.
Don’t Engage In Battle
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Your kid probably fights you and all your efforts to put them to bed. Your measures seem to be failing, and you feel helpless. As much as you want to smack them and put them to bed, take a step back and allow yourself to disengage. Take a deep breath and stop fighting them. Let your kid know that it’s time for them to sleep but don’t force them to go to bed. After all, there’s nothing you can do to make them sleep. It’s beyond your control.
So, let your kid be, and before you know it, they will give in and fall asleep. They can only fight with you until their body is too tired to fight anymore. So when they are tired, they will sleep, and it’ll mostly be one where they drift off into their dreamland.
Try Not To Care Too Much (Or At Least Pretend)
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You probably find it stressful when your kid does not fall asleep because you want them to get a goodnight’s rest. You want them to practice going to bed early and waking up early so they can incorporate a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, when your child refuses to go to bed, it can be frustrating. But try not to care too much about this because the fussiness and fighting will probably only last for a few nights before they give up and sleep.
Your child might just be throwing a tantrum to spite you. Don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that it affects you, and they’ll probably give up faster than you may think.
Follow The Routine
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If your kid is a toddler, they probably already have a bedtime routine to follow each day. Do not stop the routine. Ensure that they get into their pajamas, brush their teeth, and read them a bedtime story like you do every night. After your job is done, leave the room and instruct them to stay in there. Even if they throw tantrums about not wanting to sleep, they cannot leave the room. Make that a rule. Do this every day, and they’ll eventually start sleeping on time.
Your kid might think that they won because they are not sleeping and yet you left them in the room. In the power battle, they feel like they’ve won, which makes them happy. But the reality is that sleep always wins. They cannot and will not stay up all night. However, always ensure their room is gadget-free. Do you have bedtime battles with your child? Comment below and let us know how you deal with it!
