Convincing your toddler to go to bed can be a major struggle for parents. Andrea De La Torre, sleep consultant and founder of Baby Sleep Answers, offers two small changes parents can make that lead to big results.

1. Play around with Bedtime

Tweak your kids' bedtime so it fits into their natural rhythms. Toddlers’ tiredness is dictated by their internal circadian rhythm and sleep pressure. As they get older, they have more tolerance for tiredness and may not show the obvious signs of sleepiness that a baby does. You can work backward to figure out when they need to go to bed. “Aim for 10 to 12 hours of sleep for a 3- or 4-year-old, so if your child wakes at 7 am, try to put them to bed around 7:30 or 8 pm."

2. Establish a Consistent Routine

When your toddler knows what to expect, they’re less likely to fight you. With so much of their brain and body changing every day, toddlers crave predictability. This includes predictability of response to nighttime interruptions. Setting the expectation, and then sticking to it will help ease confusion and train your toddler to know what to expect.

Read more (via Wired)