How to Get Your Toddler a Peaceful sleep

"Healthy sleep reflects a healthy child."

Just like us adults, its very important for the little humans to get a peaceful sleep in a day, at least 12-14 hours sleep is necessary for them to stay mentally and physically fit.

It gets very frustrating when the child gets cranky while they are put to sleep, and once they fall asleep after the major sleep mission, the silence does make us feel really bad for the emotions they went through and us.

I feel really upset when my little one is really sleepy but turns away from going to bed, although I'm a breastfeeding mom, it keeps him calm for a bit and he starts over again. Yet there are few habits that i follow since his birth that he understands its time for bed at any condition, though its an afternoon nap or a good night sleep. Yes, the struggle is real...but its definitely not for long once they catch a good habit :)

I'd love to share with you all those techniques that help me a lot when I put my little one to sleep, I'm not an expert but a mother in a motherhood journey who learns every new day.

1. A Hot bath,
May it be summer or winter, a good hot bath for the babies/toddlers help them free from any kind of uneasiness and helps them calm down. Do not exceed it for more than 10 min if its given at night.
There may be days your little one wouldn't agree to go to the bathroom, obviously you can make it out from the child's body language. Y
ou may take a bowl with a manageable
 hot to warm water and a towel to dip in and give a good rub all over your baby's body.
Apply good amount of powder all over and slow exercise stretches and put on some comfy clothes not too tight or too loose.



For babies, you may swaddle them to keep them cozy and warm just as their mothers womb. For a toddler a lightly heavy blanket that they are comfortable with, why heavy? so they feel your palm light weight is upon them while they're as sleep.

(tipsy tip: for toddlers its the right time to train them to brush their teeth on their own twice a day)

2. Habit of Reading the right stuff,
Most of the time, we mothers are busy calming the little one to sleep tend to forget to do something that will interest their minds. Reading isn't anything that may cause a child mentally or psychologically, many believe that it does but when chosen the right stuff to be read during the bed time helps their imagination skills and refreshes the mood before they sleep, such as ;
* Reading a story which has morals and good habits nothing depressing or scary monsters.
* Reading an Islamic book, short stories of Prophets for the kids / description of nature created by Allah.

finally end it up by reading Duas, I've been reading to my little one the dua before bedtime, Ayat-ul Kursi, 3 Quls (3 times each) along with the dua for Evil Eye and Dua for Dunya and Akhira.
So what happens is, once they get used to it they themselves will get the habit of reading and reminding u to read before sleeping.
MashaAllah, my little one is able to say few words from the duas that i read to him every night.

Dua Before Sleeping
Allahumma bi'ismika amootu wa'ahya

Ayat-ul-Kursi
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa, Al-Haiyul-Qaiyum La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm, lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-‘ard Man dhal-ladhi yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnihi Ya’lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bi shai’im-min ‘ilmihi illa bima sha’a Wasi’a kursiyuhus-samawati wal ard, wa la ya’uduhu hifdhuhuma Wa Huwal ‘Aliyul-Adheem.

3 Quls

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ "قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ ۞ اللهُ الصَّمَدُ ۞ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۞ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ"

This will also act as a protection from any harm, evil eye and any sort of nightmare. Sub'hanAllah.

I also play Ruqya while I breastfeed him. I've been listening to Ruqya every time I go to bed since pregnancy so he's familiar with it.

3. Scheduling,
We do not want to force our child to sleep, they should get used to the schedule you put on them as per their comfort. If you decide to make your little one nap for 2 hrs in noon and night sleep after their dinner and playtime, make sure u follow the same routine every day. Fluctuation may happen at times of occasions or if the child is unwell but every day neglecting the child's routine will not make them get a disciplined lifestyle as they grow up and may cause us parents difficulties in the future.

4. Food,
we need to make sure our little ones have had enough food that's good to go for an  undisturbed sleep. Whatever is fed, make sure it's healthy and not colicky.

5. Conversation,
We are not around our toddler full day as itseems, they play with siblings, they are around other family members or any visitor. Have a smooth conversation with your little one to brush up what happened that day and share your part of something exciting with them with what plans you got for them for the next day In sha Allah.
Especially toddlers, this brings two benefits.
1. Bonding between the child and parent increases, they'll learn to share
 with their parents as they grow up.
2. You may help them overcome and experience their different emotions. At the same time get the honest feedback of the day.


With love, SBZ