Baby's Sleep: 12 Months

Bedtime Rituals

by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., author of Sleep: The Brazelton Way

By the time they are 1 year old, many children will be sleeping somewhere between 11 and 12 hours at night. Some children will still have both a morning and an afternoon nap, but most will give up the morning sometime during the second year.

With the excitement of walking alone, however, new sleeping issues are likely to arise. The new toddler finds she can explore her world much more completely. She can crawl up on tables. She can even climb up her cribside. If she tries to get out, remove any crib bumpers and move the mattress to the lowest possible level. It may be time to add a safety-approved extension to the side of the crib. If she can still climb out, it is time to ove her to a bed. Usually this will be at 3-4 years, but for a number of children, the time comes earlier. It is certainly likely to be necessary that you go to her more often. With her increased power to explore, the child is realizing that she can both leave her parents around the corner, but also remind them that she's out of sight. A cry for help produces results in a few seconds. It becomes thrilling to set up games of "rescue me" in order to interrupt her parents' concentration—on the phone, at the stove, or any other activity. "You'd better stay by my side. I can get into all kinds of trouble now," she seems to beckon.

Affirming Bedtime Rituals

Bedtime rituals begin to be tested. No longer is the baby ready to go down smoothly and easily. Calling a parent back can become a power play. The parent needs to set a limit on the "game" of being called back—without getting entangled in the struggle. Unless the bedtime ritual really works to help her settle, unless she has firmly learned to put herself down into deep sleep, every bedtime separation can become a tussle as the toddler tests to see whether her parents really mean it or not.

This is the time for parents to recognize how hard it is for a child to give up one activity for another, especially for sleep. To help, warn the child in advance: "This is the last book we are going to read. I know it's hard to stop. But when it's over, time for a lullaby and kiss good night. Then—lights out." A little later say, "Remember this is the last story. We only have three more pages to read. Time to get yourself ready to say goodnight." When parents are certain that testing must end, the child will know it and comply.

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