Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.

the possums
sleep program

find essentialsbrowse the programabout the programspeak to dr pamaudiologin / sign up

search for articles

  • toddler sleep (12-36 months)
  • possums sleep 101 (brief & simple)

Problems with toddler night-time sleep

Dr Pamela Douglas9th of Jul 202323rd of May 2024

toddler crying in cot at night time

This page is part of a collection of short articles called Brief & simple, which together make up a quick summary of The Possums Toddler Sleep Program in plain language. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Toddler Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.

When the sleep pressure is high enough in the evening, cuddles with a loving adult, often combined with a story, can be the best way to dial down the toddler's sympathetic nervous system. The sleep regulators kick in easily, and sleep pressure happens without a fuss, when your toddler

  • Has high enough sleep pressure, and

  • Is dialled down.

It's hard for sleep regulators to do their job when our sympathetic nervous system is dialled up. If I'm stressed about something, for instance, which turns my sympathetic nervous system up high, it can take me ages to get to sleep. Our job as adults is to keep that little person dialled down at bedtime, usually through physical closeness - but don't start too early in the evening. Wait for their sleep pressure to be nice and high.

Don't worry about dimming lights and keeping things quiet in the evening - this can be rather depressing for everyone! Sleep is under the control of sleep pressure, only, and sensory nourishment keeps our little ones dialled down in the evenings while the sleep pressure is rising, the same as during the day.

Acknowledgements

I'm grateful to Professor Sophie Havighurst, Ros June, and Caroline Ma at Mindful, The University of Melbourne, for their feedback on the articles in the Brief & simple section of The Possums Sleep Program. They helped me keep the language plain and the concepts as accessible as possible. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.

Finished

share this article

Next up in it's an emergency

Read here first if you are in a toddler sleep emergency

Hand waving for help in sea

It's awful to be so sleep deprived that you've had to come to this toddler sleep emergency section first! Not only are your days full to overflowing with the physical and emotional demands of caring for a busy child (so that paid work often feels like a break), but you're not sleeping at night. Sometimes it can seem like your toddler never sleeps at all.

Please see your local doctor if you think either yourself or your little one might have a medical condition or health problem which is affecting sleep. Toddlers may have very disrupted sleep if they have a fever or viral infection, for instance. Some children snore at night and wake a lot because they have enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Also, some primary carers are in such severe sleep crisis that they are best receiving

more articles in possums sleep 101 (brief & simple)

  • 3

    minute
    read

    Introduction to this brief & simple section of the Possums Toddler Sleep Program
  • 2

    minute
    read

    Key things to know about toddlers' sleep
  • 2

    minute
    read

    How much sleep does your toddler need?
  • 2

    minute
    read

    Is it normal for toddlers to wake in the night?
View full article list
Possum sleep program logo

the possums
baby & toddler
sleep program

about the programfind essentialsspeak to dr pamaudiocode of ethicsterms & conditionsprivacy policyFAQs / help
Dr Pam logo

© Dr Pamela Douglas 2025

visit drpam.baby for more programs