Children start off to be completely dependent on their parents to do tasks as basic as eating, changing clothes, etc. But there comes a time when they have to take the first steps into independence – and we’re talking baby steps!

One of the major milestones a child should achieve is to put themselves to sleep at night. While that sounds like an impossible task, it’s all about taking the right steps:

Make Sure They’re Active All Day

Children have built-in energy backpacks, and can’t rest until they’ve emptied it all! The best way to do that is to give them enough outdoor play, sunshine, fresh air, and exercise. This will help children expend most of their energy during the day so that by the time it’s evening, they’ll feel more tired, and hence will easily fall asleep on their own. Once they get used to these kinds of everyday activities, they will find it easier to empty their energy backpacks before heading off to bed.

Prepare Your Child’s Bed Beforehand

Your toddler will find it easier to sleep if their bed isn’t uncomfortable. Make sure they have the right kind of blankets, pillows, and cushions around them. Keep their stuffed toys near them for comfort, in case they often wake up from sleep from time to time. It also helps if you keep the room’s lighting dim, so that your child can feel calmer. Make sure the room’s temperature is just right – not too cold, and not too warm.

Wind Down Before Bedtime

Children won’t be able to sleep on their own if they’re forced to sleep right in the middle of them watching TV or playing with their toys.

The best approach is to wind them down, which can start as early as in the evening. Turn the TV off, and engage children in other simpler activities like drawing, painting, reading books, etc. This will help tire them out naturally, while simultaneously calming down their energetic selves. Make sure this winding down time-period is drawn out long enough so that they don’t resist bedtime.

Set A Proper Routine

Children never mind following routines – in fact, it is highly encouraged! Children will find it easier to fall asleep if they know it’s something they have to do, like having breakfast or playing outside. If the routine you set is simple, not abrupt, and calming, then they won’t run away from it.

Add as many intermediate steps, as long as they help your child calm down; examples include brushing teeth, brushing hair, reading a bedtime book, cuddling for a bit, and then off to sleep. Make sure you follow the routine fixedly; don’t give in to their demands for more playtime – tell them that the rules can’t be changed and that they have to follow them. Sooner or later, they will accept their inevitability.


Worried that your child might not follow a bedtime routine? Don’t worry – nurseries in Jumeirah Park are great at helping children get used to routines. In fact, Oakfield Early Learning Centre keeps fixed times for naps, so that even the most hyper of children learn how to rest on their own, without their parents’ direct assistance. It’s the perfect kind of training!


When you’re a parent, even the simplest of tasks might feel impossible – but always remember: with the right kind of steps, and a lot of perseverance, there’s no mountain high enough!