It's that time of year! The sunrises are later, the sunsets are earlier, the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and everyone's sleep schedule is getting knocked out of whack (especially with Daylight Saving Time coming up next month)! This is hard enough for us grown-ups, but the changing seasons are especially tough on little ones!
Toddlers are basically tiny, walking circadian rhythms, so the seasonal light changes are really throwing off their internal clocks! They're extra wiggly, more bedtime resistant, and prone to early wake-ups, and it can be a big challenge for parents!
Luckily, we've figured out the ultimate solution to this problem! Just by leaning into a sensory, deeply calming wind-down routine, you can send natural signals to your toddler's brain that it's time to rest, regardless of what the sun is doing! Read ahead for all of our tips and tricks!
Step One: The Sensory Reset Bath
Start the bedtime routine with a bath! Clear off the dinner table, turn off the TV, and lock up the phones and tablets. Fill up the tub, pop your toddler in, and wash the day off.
Warm water will naturally lower their body temperature once they dry off, which is a biological trigger that tells your baby's brain: "It's time to rest." Small brain cues like this help your little one in the bedtime mindset naturally, and they're the best ways to initiate their bedtime routine.
Try to avoid bath toys that could make them want to start splashing or playing, because you don't want your kid to get riled up right before bed! Instead, try a bath bomb! Our favorites come from Two Sisters Spa, because kids love them and they're 100% mom-approved! These bath bombs have soothing scents great for calming your toddler's nervous system, and the fun colors are something for your kiddo to focus on instead of fighting bath time! Plus: Two Sisters Spa bath bombs only contain clean, kid-safe ingredients, and they don't stain your bathtub!
Step Two: The T.O.G. Transition
Fluctuating temperatures are thematic when it comes to Autumn evenings. Toddlers are extra sensitive to temperature changes, and you don't want to deal with a chilly toddler waking up and crying at 2:00 AM. Our solution? Kyte Baby sleep sacks and pajamas! These are some of our favorite sleepwear for babies at the boutique, and for good reason: On top of their top-notch construction, these garments have the sweetest colors, prints, and patterns, and they're made of natural, breathable bamboo, which has a natural temperature-regulating quality.
Kyte Baby sleep sacks are categorized by their T.O.G. (thermal overall grade) rating, and they come in 0.5 T.O.G., 1.0 T.O.G., and 2.5 T.O.G.. Choose the perfect T.O.G. rating for your baby based on where you live and how warm/cool you keep the house. 0.5 T.O.G. are the most lightweight, which are ideal for warm rooms and warmer environments. If you live in a particularly cold location, 2.5 T.O.G. is the way to go.
We sell mostly 1.0 T.O.G. rating sleep sacks at the boutique, because they're not too bulky for the hot Carolina weather we get, but they're not so thin that our babies get chilly during the colder months. As the weather turns, a little layering goes a long way, so 1.0 is the ideal weight for us!
When it comes to baby pajamas to wear under the sleep sack, we have one rule: bamboo fabric only! It's breathable, temperature-regulating, and super comfortable, so your little one won't feel uncomfortable, too hot, or too chilly, even when worn in the sleep sack.
Check out our selection of Kyte Baby pajamas here, and take a look at our entire baby sleepwear collection here!
The Screen-Free Wind Down
So your baby is bathed, they're getting put in their sleepwear, and it's almost time to start snoozing! You don't want to stimulate your toddler too much or get them excited over anything before bed, so low-stimulation relaxation is the key to getting them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
The strict rule you need to implement for this bedtime routine is simple: Absolutely NO screens at least 30-60 minutes before bed!
TV, phone, and tablet screens all emit a blue light (even on night mode) that tricks your baby's brain into thinking "Oh, the sun is still out, and I need to stay awake." It essentially keeps your baby's brain in "daytime mode," which makes falling asleep a much more difficult task. So even though a quick episode of Bluey or a Ms. Rachel video sounds like a great way to relax before bed, it actually keeps your toddler wired and ready for more.
Instead, take half an hour or so to slow them down with a calming activity. Singing them a quiet lullaby while you rock them is one example. You can also get a calming baby mobile to put over their crib for them to gaze at while they fall asleep. Dim the lights and get a projector to put peaceful nighttime stars on their ceiling they can watch while they drift to sleep. Our favorite activity, however, is reading a short bedtime story to your baby! On top of being a great bonding activity, there are plenty of real health benefits that come with reading to your baby! It inspires learning, it encourages language skills, and it's a wonderful bonding activity that helps you and your baby get even closer.
Parents, You Got This!
Transitioning a toddler's sleep routine is one of many difficult tasks that come with parenting, but you got this! Hopefully this guide offers you some help, or at least some peace of mind, with the upcoming transitional weather!
If you need to stock up on bedtime routine materials, come into the boutique any time--we'd love to help you! If you're not local, no worries: Check out our entire collection of baby sleepwear here!