Why it's best not to be constantly trying to reset your toddler's body clock
Sometimes you might find that you are constantly trying to reset your toddler's body clock, week after week. This ongoing struggle feels not only exhausting, but demoralising. (Or depressing.)
In The Possums Sleep Program, a reset occurs through a one or two week period of change. Doing a reset requires some planning, and may even require bringing in extra help for that week or two, if you can, depending on your situation. A reset can feel intense.
But after you come out the other side, the days and nights will be much more manageable. You continue to use your new understandings about how to keep your toddlers body clock and sleep pressure functioning in sync with your own sleep, but life is generally easier (- still exhausting, still tough sometimes, but more manageable).
The most common reason why families find themselves dealing with excessive night waking is because in our society we're taught that toddlers should be sleeping for longer than they actually need in a 24-hour period. But it could be that you're having a hard time believing your toddler needs even less sleep in a 24-hour period, given all the advice out there telling you otherwise.
Here are the most common reasons why you might find yourself accidentally caught into a constant effort to reset your toddler's body clock, and what you could do to change this.
| Part of the day you find you're constantly trying to reset | My guess as to why (though only you know!) | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Having trouble getting your toddler up at the same time in mornings | Exhaustion. You don't have support in the mornings | Read here for a list of strategies. Do you have someone who can come into the house early each day or stay, just for a week while you do a reset? |
| Having trouble pushing your toddler's bedtime back in the evening | Exhaustion. You're desperate for a break | Read here for a list of strategies. If you are alone in the evenings is there someone who can come for the evenings or stay with you or whom you can visit, just for a week while you do a reset? |
| Your toddler dials up a lot whenever you try to push daytime naps back a little later, for instance to consolidate naps into a lesser number of naps, or into a single nap | Exhaustion. It's awful when he dials up so much and it's been going on week after week. You worry about how it's affecting him and his development | This when an extra big effort to increase sensory motor nourishment as your toddler's sleep pressure climbs is very helpful. You can find out more here, and here , and here. |
| Your toddler dials up when you wake him from daytime naps, which makes you think she needs more sleep | Exhaustion. It's awful when she dials up so much and it's been going on week after week. You worry about how it's affecting him and his development | This is also when an extra big effort to increase sensory motor nourishment as soon as your little one wakes is very helpful. You might use a quick dial down breastfeed, if you're breastfeeding your toddler (though not feeding back to sleep), or offer some food, then move quickly into a sensory motor adventure outside the home. |
Please consider seeing an NDC Accredited health professional, either face-to-face or online, if you are needing more help, or if you've tried out these steps for a couple of weeks and still don't feel you're getting anywhere.
