Post by @everythingtoddler_

Before I assume we need to completely change the schedule, I want to look at what is happening when they wake. First, check the sleep environment. Is the room still dark? Is the temperature comfortable? Is something waking them or making it harder for them to settle back into sleep? Sometimes a child naturally moves into a lighter part of sleep, and an uncomfortable environment makes that waking much harder to move through. Then look at your response. If your toddler is awake but calm, talking to themselves, rolling around, or calling for you without actually being distressed, give them some space. You do not need to turn every wake up into an interaction. If they become genuinely distressed, go in and help them regulate. Keep the room dark. Keep your voice low. Use your body to help them calm. A hand on them. A back rub. A cuddle if they really need it. Then, once they are calm, put them back down awake and let them finish the transition into sleep. The goal is not to ignore your child. It is to respond when they genuinely need you without accidentally turning 1 AM into another bedtime routine they need you to complete. If your toddler is spending hours awake in the middle of the night and you cannot figure out what is keeping the pattern going, send me a message with the word EARLY and I’ll send you the link to my Sleep Course or grab the course in the link of my bio Important: Make sure you’re following me so you actually get my DM — otherwise it might not come through!