Summarize the following:
Calm your child down about an hour or so before dinner time. Make the switch from wild play to calming activities like reading a book or singing songs. Shut off the TV just before dinner and don't turn it on until after your toddler has gone to bed. Give your child a warm bath after dinner to help calm both their mind and body. Try adding some lavender soap or use a lavender-infused shampoo, which has calming properties. Decide on a bedtime and make sure you start your nightly routine at the same time each night. After just a week of going to bed at the same time, most children will adjust to this schedule and come to expect it each night. Signal to your child that bedtime is approaching to get them mentally prepared. Give them a bath, brush their teeth, and get out that security blanket or stuffed animal they love. Your child might experience anxiety because they feel they have no control over their bedtime routine. Give them some choices to alleviate this. Limit their options to keep their choices simple. For instance, let them decide which story to read at bedtime. Lay out two sets of pajamas on the bed and allow your toddler to choose which pair to wear each night. During bath time, ask which songs they would like to sing. Before they get into bed, be sure they don't need anything. Give them a few sips of water so they aren't thirsty and make sure they've used the bathroom. You might also give them a nighttime snack like an apple so they aren't hungry. Don't give them too much water if they are potty training. You don't want to wake up to an accident! If they keep making demands before bed, your toddler may be "fake" crying to get attention because they don't feel like going to sleep. Spending more time together before bed can help your child feel less needy as lights out approaches. Read them a story, talk about their day, and talk about what you're looking forward to for tomorrow. This can help your two year old feel secure while transitioning to sleeping on their own. Do this for a week, and then begin leaving the room as soon as they are in bed. Stay in the room and perform some simple, silent tasks while they lie in their crib or bed. Fold laundry, balance a checkbook, go through the mail or read a book. Explain to your toddler that you will remain in the room until they fall asleep, but that it's bedtime and not time to play or talk. Your child might not want to be alone because they are afraid of the dark, but this is a simple fix. Get them a night light for their room and leave it on for them so they aren't scared.
Take your toddler's activity level down a notch during early evening hours. Stick with the same bedtime each night. Go through all the steps to prepare for bed. Let your toddler make bedtime decisions each night. Make sure all of their needs are met before bed. Spend time together right before they go to sleep. Stay within your toddler's sight while they are adjusting to the new bedtime routine. Turn on their night light.