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A MadeForMums report outlines sleep consultants’ practical suggestions for toddlers who leave bed at bedtime or during the night. The advice includes a predictable wind-down routine, calmly returning a child to bed each time and making changes gradually; consultants say learning independent sleep can take several weeks.
MadeForMums has published advice from children’s sleep consultants Mandy Gurney and Maryanne Taylor for parents whose toddlers keep leaving bed at bedtime, wake during the night or get up early. Their recommendations focus on a consistent bedtime routine, calm and repeated returns to bed, and gradual changes to how a child falls asleep.
Gurney, founder of the Millpond Sleep Clinic, says parents should consider timing before changing a child’s sleep arrangements. She advises against starting during a period with other major changes, such as beginning nursery, moving home or expecting another baby. The report says it can take up to six weeks for many children to learn to stay in bed independently, so parents should not expect an immediate result.
Taylor, founder of The Sleep Works, recommends an unvarying, calming wind-down. Gurney describes a routine that starts with time to talk about the day, followed by putting toys away, switching off screens and doing quiet activities such as drawing or puzzles. A brief bath, dim lighting, a story and a goodnight can then mark the move to bed. The report presents these as expert suggestions, not a guaranteed formula.
For a child who relies on a parent’s presence to fall asleep, Gurney suggests reducing that support in small steps rather than leaving abruptly. A parent might start beside the bed with a hand on the child, then move farther away over time. For night-time exits, her advice is to return the child to bed calmly each time, with little or no conversation, and stay nearby until the child settles. Taylor also recommends praise or rewards for progress. These approaches call for consistency and patience from caregivers.
A gradual approach to bedtime struggles
Repeated trips out of bed can disrupt sleep for both toddlers and caregivers. The report’s recommendations offer parents a practical framework: keep the bedtime sequence predictable, respond to getting out of bed in a steady way, and change sleep habits gradually. The emphasis on calm repetition may also help parents avoid turning each exit into a prolonged negotiation.
The advice also sets expectations. Gurney says learning to remain in bed may take up to six weeks, and her step-by-step approach involves staying with a child while gradually shifting position. That timeline can help families understand that progress may be slow. The report does not establish that these methods work for every child, and individual sleep difficulties may have different causes.
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The routines behind the advice
The MadeForMums feature addresses several situations parents may face: a toddler who resists settling at bedtime, gets up after being put down, wakes overnight or starts the day very early. Its advice comes from interviews with Gurney and Taylor, alongside experiences shared by members of the publication’s parenting community.
Those community accounts describe making a child’s room feel familiar with items such as a favourite blanket, posters or a nightlight, and one parent said a new bed seemed to help. These are individual experiences, not evidence that a new bed or room changes will reliably solve sleep problems. The report’s central expert guidance is to keep routines and responses predictable and to avoid making major sleep changes during other unsettled periods.
““Expect slow, steady progress, rather than overnight success.””
— Mandy Gurney, founder of the Millpond Sleep Clinic
What the advice cannot establish
The report does not provide clinical research, success rates or a comparison of the suggested approaches. It does not say which method is most effective for particular ages or temperaments, or how to adapt the steps when a child becomes very distressed. The six-week figure is presented as a general expectation, not a deadline or guarantee for an individual family.
It is also unclear from the source whether the guidance applies to children with persistent sleep difficulties related to health or developmental needs. The report offers general parenting suggestions rather than an assessment of a child. Parents with concerns about their child’s sleep or wellbeing may want to discuss them with a pediatrician or other qualified health professional.
Families can adjust the routine
The report does not announce a follow-up study or a new clinical guideline. Its suggested next step for parents is to choose a calm period, agree on a consistent approach with any other caregiver, and give gradual changes time. Families can observe whether a predictable routine and calm returns to bed help their child settle, while avoiding assumptions that one approach will suit every toddler.
Key Questions
How long might it take for a toddler to stay in bed?
MadeForMums reports Gurney’s estimate that it can take up to six weeks for many children to learn to stay in bed independently. That is a general estimate, not a guaranteed timeline.
What should a parent do when a toddler gets out of bed?
Gurney advises calmly taking the child back to bed each time, keeping the interaction brief and staying nearby until the child settles. The report stresses consistency rather than punishment or a long discussion.
Should parents change bedtime routines during a major family event?
Gurney recommends avoiding sleep changes during other major upheavals, such as starting nursery, moving house or the arrival of another baby. Her advice is to choose a more settled period when possible.
How can a parent reduce a toddler’s reliance on being cuddled to sleep?
Gurney suggests making the change in stages, initially staying close to the bed and gradually moving farther away over several nights. The report says each step may take several nights, and does not claim this approach works for every child.
Source: madeformums.com
