Page 100 - Choosing a Child Care Center

LETY CARVAJAL, M.ED.

Toddlers—(2-3 years)

Toddlers usually sleep 11 to 13 hours a day,
including an afternoon nap. Toddlers may feel scared
to go to sleep or wake up in the dark. Bedtime rou-
tines, such as regular bedtimes, baths, bedtime
stories, or a favorite stuffed toy, may help a toddler
relax and settle down for sleep.

Preschoolers—(3-5 years)

Including nighttime sleep and a 1- to 2-hour nap,
preschoolers generally sleep 10 to 12 hours a day.
Even if they stop napping, preschoolers may be less
fussy in the evening if they’ve had some sort of quiet
time or rest in the afternoon.
Many preschoolers may continue to wet the bed at
night. If the child has plenty to drink during the day,
withholding liquids 2 to 3 hours before bedtime may
help the child stop wetting during the night. Waking
the child to go to the bathroom before you go to bed
is another method.
Preschoolers may begin to have nightmares once
or twice a week. They are often dreaming about being
abandoned or about scary animals or monsters. This
is most likely to happen after a busy day or after
watching a scary movie. Mild comforting and a night
light will help them overcome their fears.

88