Is your child not sleeping enough, waking up way too early, or refusing naps and bedtime altogether?
If they’re up all night or stuck with habits like needing a feed to settle, it can leave you exhausted and struggling to cope. You might be dreaming of moving them to their own bed, their own room, or weaning them off the bottle or breast, but it feels impossible to know what to try. You want them to sleep well, but you also don’t want to resort to drastic measures that can make disrupt their (and your) wellbeing even further.
Here’s the good news: Montessori sleep is about all about setting up developmentally-appropriate habits that encourage independent sleep: helping babies and toddlers feel safe in their sleep space, develop the necessary skills put themselves to sleep and resettle during the night without having to “cry it out” or push through sleep deprivation. It’s not about forcing a schedule but creating a routine that fits, helping with weaning off habits that don’t serve your family anymore, while respecting your child’s need to adjust at their own pace.
Here are some quick tips:
- Turn down the lights during dinner and the evening time before bed, use a red light as a nightlight to prevent disrupting their cirdadian rhythm.
- Stick to a steady bedtime routine with self-settling tools they can use.
- Wean night feeds slowly to break old associations that no longer work.
- Work on sleep associations that bring safety and calm, while working for everyone.
- Start naps in their own room to help them feel cosy in a new space.
- Try a Montessori floor bed - for more independence and easier soothing when needed.
As an AMI-certified Montessori 0-3 guide and your parenting sidekick, I can help you tackle these sleep woes with a plan that works, and support you through the process by asking mindful questions and offering practical advice. Book a free 15-min call with me, share your challenges, and let’s create a plan together.