This Toddler Knows How to Put Herself to Bed — Parents Everywhere Ask, How?!

Bedtime is often synonymous with chaos for many parents of toddlers out there. However, this viral toddler is taking matters into her own hands by putting herself to bed, leaving parents wondering how they can get their child hyped up for bedtime. 

Jo Lynette Roberts recently shared a video on Good Morning America of her granddaughter running to bed after she said the words “night night.” As shocking as it may be, the tot appears to be very excited to go to bed, even going so far as to climb up into the crib and cozying up under the covers without any help.

“She’s got that ‘I can do it myself’ mentality you need in life,” one viewer jokingly commented. I’m sure many parents of independent toddlers can relate to that one. 

Others say that the toddler’s enthusiastic reaction to bedtime is all too relatable (to us adults that is). “I relate to this on a spiritual level,” another viewer commented. 

For many parents who are used to bedtime battles to get their toddler tucked in bed (and stay in bed), this probably comes as a shock. While your toddler might not be running to their crib at bedtime, here are some expert tips to help lessen the bedtime blues.

Why Do Toddlers Struggle at Bedtime?

Many parents of toddlers out there are probably dreaming of the days when their child will go to sleep and stay asleep willingly. It’s no secret that toddlers can be hard to manage at times due to their energetic nature and that’s normal. There’s real science behind why toddlers often struggle at bedtime and it all comes down to their development.

“Toddlers are naturally curious and energetic, making it difficult for them to wind down. They may also experience separation anxiety, making it hard to be apart from parents at night. Inconsistent routines and overstimulation before bed can contribute to bedtime resistance,” says Michelle Mintz, speech-language pathologist and child development expert. 

Not only that, but toddlers often create bedtime battles when their sleep schedule is off. 

“Sometimes toddlers have a tough time with bedtime because they aren’t tired enough, due to their schedule being out of alignment. If a child is napping too late or too long, they may not be tired enough at bedtime, giving them energy to fight bedtime. On the flip side, many toddler bedtimes are too late, which results in them getting overtired, resulting in a second wind, which will also give them energy to fight bedtime,” Christine Brown, certified sleep consultant and founder of Bella Luna Family parent consulting, tells Sleepopolis.

“On top of that, around two years old, children’s imaginations explode, and nighttime fears tend to crop up. The most common nighttime fears are fear of the dark, shadows, and monsters,” adds Brown. 

These are all very common reasons why toddlers often struggle at bedtime. While this is a normal part of being a toddler, there are a couple of ways you might be able to reduce the bedtime struggles as a parent. 

How to Get Your Toddler Excited For Bed

It’s unlikely that your child will jump for joy for bedtime like the viral tot in the video, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make bedtime more fun.

Some sleep experts say that your child might be happier when it comes to bedtime if they can have some say in their bedroom environment (within reason of course…) 

“We can make it a pleasurable experience by incorporating elements to the bedtime routine that they like, like their favorite books or songs and snuggling. Parents can also give their children some say in decorating their rooms, like sheets and blankets, plus artwork. This will make their room feel like they’ve had a say in it,” suggests Brown. 

Other experts suggest incorporating fun into other aspects of their nighttime routine.

“Make the routine consistent and fun. If struggling to get into bed, try a fun tactic like hoping like a frog into bed. If struggling with brushing teeth, shine the teeth like shiny rocks! Talk about the importance of sleep and how it helps them do fun activities the next day,” says Mindy Morrison, certified toddler sleep consultant and owner of Say Yes to The Rest Pediatric Sleep Consulting. 

With that said, sometimes attempts to add fun to bedtime don’t seem to help much when it comes to a screaming toddler. So here are some other ways to try to set your child up for bedtime success. 

Expert Sleep Tips For Your Toddler’s Nighttime Routine

When it comes to the perfect nighttime routine for kids, there’s one thing that child sleep experts and doctors all emphasize: consistency. 

“Routine is the operative word! Establish a consistent bedtime routine and this goes for naps too. When you create a pattern for sleep, it becomes a habit that’s anticipated and eventually welcomed,” says Lauri Leadley, founder and clinical sleep educator at Valley Sleep Center. 

Routine can mean a lot of different things depending on your child, but there are some basic suggestions to keep in mind when establishing your tot’s bedtime routine.

“The most important factors to remember when creating a routine are consistency, calmness, fostering independence, and keeping it at the proper length. A toddler’s routine should be approximately 20 to 30 minutes to cue their body’s brain that it is time for sleep. Make sure that there are activities within the routine that promote calmness,” adds Morrison. 

Looking for ways to add some relaxing activities to their routine? 

“Create a calming pre-sleep routine including activities like a warm bath, reading a book, and listening to soft music. Talk about what happened during the day and what will be happening the next day. The sleep environment should be comfortable for the toddler which may be with a nightlight or some may prefer the dark,” says Mintz.

Your child might not be eagerly putting themselves to bed anytime soon, but these little things might lessen the stress of bedtime. 

Emma Ernst

Emma Ernst is an editorial intern at Sleepopolis. A rising senior at the University of South Carolina, studying public relations and Spanish, Emma is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and loves to talk about anything Midwestern!