If you have a toddler, chances are you’ve already heard every excuse to avoid sleep in the book. Kids at the toddler age are in full learning mode, and their brains are wired to absorb as much information as they can. This can often translate to them simply refusing to go to bed even though they’re already half-asleep and yawning. For kids with issues like eczema, sleep is essential. The body needs enough sleep to give the skin time to heal and to give the immune system time to do its work. To help your toddler (and you!) get the sleep you need, we’ll be exploring this topic today.

Endless Excuses

I think a group of just a few parents with a toddler could fill an entire book with the excuses their children come up with not to go to bed. The fact is that kids who don’t want to sleep are usually just afraid of missing out on something. What happens after they doze off? What fun are they missing? What new experiences are they being excluded from?

The endless excuses are really just a sign that your child wants to keep playing, experiencing, and learning – all good signs! But sleep is essential, so we have to get past the excuses and get to the sweet dreams.

Make It Unappealing

While bargains, arguing, and threats all usually work their way into discussions about bedtime, there’s one method that could work for your child after a few nights of putting it to the test. If kids are worried about missing out on something, let them know just what they’re missing out on! Explain balancing checkbooks, sitting silently and reading, or doing chores. Let them know that staying up past their bedtime means they need to participate in these extremely boring activities and they’ll probably welcome the chance to climb into bed.

Energy

If you find that your child has too much energy at night, there may be a few things happening. They may be napping too long and it may be time to start cutting back on how long their rests are during the day. They may also not be working their bodies or minds enough during the day. Increasing play time and physical activities as much as possible while also making sure to work out the mind are great ways to help kids feel truly tired and ready for bed at the right time.

Sleepy Nature

If all else fails, consider putting the power of nature to work for your child’s bedtime. Many herbal teas are completely safe for children and can be served warm, iced, or with natural sweeteners as a post-dinner treat to help get their bodies and minds ready for sleep. Many homeopathic and herbal supplements are also formulated for kids to help get their sleep schedule on track by lulling them off to rest easy each night.

What kinds of excuses do your children use to avoid sleep, and how do you get past it?