"We never thought we would still be sleep-deprived four years later," shared Liam's parents.
Liam, their lively and strong-willed preschooler, had always been a bit of a challenge when it came to sleep. They had often been reassured that he would eventually settle down on his own, so they held onto that hope and never really tried to teach him to sleep independently. They kept thinking, "After one good night, this is it! He's finally learning," only to be met with more wake-ups, bedtime battles, and frustration.
After some time, they reached a breaking point and realized they needed to make some changes. Elaine K. expressed, "We were desperate for some peace and tired of all the fighting."
They decided to seek help and guidance to create a plan. They began by streamlining Liam's bedtime routine, setting clear expectations and boundaries. They let Liam take charge and make choices about what would happen, ensuring his daytime naps and sleep environment were conducive to good rest. Visual aids and clear instructions were used to guide him in what to do at bedtime. A consistent response was established, and Liam's parents received instructions on how to follow through and adjust based on specific situations like nightmares or potty breaks.
With a solid game plan and the support to ask questions along the way, Liam's parents made quick progress. In just one week, Liam was happily going to bed at 7:00 pm and waking up at 7:00 am. He was now getting a full 12 hours of sleep and could handle minor disruptions on his own, putting himself back to sleep.
His parents were amazed at how their once stubborn child had become more easygoing and capable of managing sleep. They reflected, "We now feel more confident handling bedtime because we know what to do and how to respond. It's been a valuable lesson for all of us; we regret not making these changes sooner due to our fear that things might not work out."
The Your Dream Plan toddler program offers parenting modules, age-appropriate sleep strategies, and support to help families achieve better sleep quickly and easily.
