Ashwin Lewis
Moving a sleeping toddler without waking them can be a challenging task. It requires a combination of perfect conditions, an ideal environment, and a lot of patience. Planning ahead can help, such as ensuring your toddler is comfortable and in a quiet environment before they fall asleep. When it comes to physically moving them, slow and steady wins the race; take your time, move gently, and ensure you are lifting them with the correct technique.
How to move a sleeping toddler without waking:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Speed of movement | Slow |
| Type of movement | Gentle and careful |
| Noise level | Quiet |
| Lighting | Dim |
| Support | Full head, neck, and body support |
| Transfer method | Slide one hand under the head, support the neck, and support the bottom with the other hand |
| Pre-sleep preparation | Pre-nap or night-time routine, comfortable and breathable clothing, pre-heat the cot or bassinet with a hot water bottle |
| Pre-transfer preparation | Change diaper, feed, undo Velcro shoes, unzip jackets, and remove hats |
| Verbal cues | Whisper "shh, shhhh, shhh, you're still sleeping" |
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What You'll Learn
Test if they're in deep sleep
As a parent, it's important to understand your toddler's sleep patterns. This knowledge can help you soothe your toddler to sleep and encourage a peaceful sleep rhythm.
Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep every 24 hours. This includes a sleep of 10-12 hours at night and a nap of 1-2 hours during the day.
A toddler's sleep cycle is quite different from an adult's. Toddlers spend about 50% of their time in light sleep or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and the other half in deep or non-REM sleep. In comparison, adults are in REM sleep for about 20% of their sleep time.
During light sleep, toddlers may twitch, jerk, and make little sounds. They wake up easily during this stage. In contrast, when toddlers are in deep sleep, they are floppy, relaxed, and sound asleep. It is harder to wake them during this stage.
Initially, toddlers enter sleep through a period of light sleep. After 20 minutes or more, they gradually enter deep sleep. As they mature, the average sleep cycle lengthens to around 30-45 minutes. By the time they are toddlers, their sleep cycle lengthens to around 60 minutes.
To test if your toddler is in deep sleep, observe their body language and listen for any sounds. They will appear relaxed and sound asleep, with regular breathing and no sudden movements. Their eyelids will be closed, and their facial muscles will be calm and still.
If you notice any signs of light sleep, such as twitching or irregular breathing, give them some time to transition into deep sleep before attempting to move them.
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Maintain their posture
Maintaining the posture of a sleeping toddler as you move them is key to ensuring they stay asleep. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
Firstly, wait until the toddler is in a deep sleep before attempting to move them. You can test this by carefully performing the "floppy arm test": lift their arm and gently let it go, and if it falls limply, they are in a deep sleep. If their arm stiffens, they are still in a light sleep, and you should wait longer before trying to move them.
When you are ready to move them, slide one hand, with splayed fingers, gently under their head, supporting their neck. Use your other hand to support their bottom. Keep their head and neck stable and in the same position as when they fell asleep. Our most sensitive orientation and motion sensors are in our ears, so it's important to maintain the alignment of the head and neck to avoid waking the toddler.
Bend your knees and lower yourself as close to the crib as possible. Hold the toddler over the crib and count to 10 or 15 seconds. If they don't wake up, slowly lower them towards the mattress, maintaining the same posture. Move very slowly and gently, and try to avoid any jerky or sudden movements.
Once the toddler is lying on the mattress, slowly pull away your hand from under their bottom, and then gently withdraw your other hand from under their head. Place your hand that was under their bottom lightly on their tummy for reassurance as you pull away your other hand.
By following these steps and maintaining the toddler's posture as you move them, you can increase the chances of a successful transfer without waking them up!
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Make slow, gentle movements
When moving a sleeping toddler, it is important to move slowly and gently. Here are some tips to help you do this successfully:
First, ensure that you are prepared with the right environment and conditions. Make sure the room is quiet and peaceful, with no sudden or loud noises. You may also want to try using a night light to avoid having to turn on bright lights when you enter the room. If possible, pre-heat the cot or bassinet with a hot water bottle, as placing your toddler into a cold bed may wake them up.
When you are ready to move your toddler, start by sliding one hand, with splayed fingers, gently under their head, providing support to their neck. Use your other hand to support their bottom. Bend your knees so that you are as low and close to the bed as possible. Lift your toddler slowly and with gentle movements.
Maintain the same slow and gentle approach as you lower your toddler into their bed. Keep one hand supporting their head and neck, and the other under their bottom. Gently and slowly lay them down, then withdraw the hand that is under their bottom and place it lightly on their tummy. This provides reassurance as you slowly withdraw your other hand from under their head. Ensure that you do not pull away too fast, as any sudden movements could wake your toddler.
By taking your time and making slow, gentle movements, you can increase the chances of successfully moving your sleeping toddler without waking them up.
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Use white noise
White noise can be an effective tool to help your toddler sleep better and longer. It can block out unwanted noise, such as loud siblings, creaky floorboards, or a vocal dog, and soothe your toddler to sleep. White noise is produced by combining sounds of all different frequencies, resulting in a mix of all the different colours (frequencies) of light combined together, just like white light.
There are several white noise machines available, such as the Dohm machine from Marpac, which is highly recommended. This machine creates a sound similar to rushing air, which is soothing to a baby. It is simple and straightforward, with only high and low settings and no extra sounds. Other options include the LectroFan Kinder, which has enhanced volume control and a nightlight, and the Marpac Rohm, which is portable, rechargeable, and has great volume options.
When using a white noise machine, it is important to ensure that it is not too loud. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that infant white noise machines exceeded recommended noise limits, and regular exposure to these sound pressure levels may damage infant hearing and auditory development. Therefore, it is recommended to place the machine at least 6-7 feet away from your toddler's crib.
While white noise can be beneficial, it is not a cure-all method for helping toddlers sleep. It may not work for all toddlers, and there is a potential for them to become dependent on the noise to sleep. Additionally, it may not always be practical or consistently available, and it could be problematic if your toddler is in a situation where they need to sleep, but the machine is not with them.
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Pre-warm the crib
Pre-warming the crib is an important step in ensuring your toddler gets a good night's sleep. It is recommended to maintain a room temperature of 68-72 °F (20-22.2 °C) in your baby's nursery to keep it safe and comfortable. Here are some tips to pre-warm the crib effectively:
Firstly, ensure the crib is positioned away from direct heat sources such as radiators, heaters, or air vents. You want to create an environment with consistent temperature regulation, so no hot or cold air is flowing directly onto your toddler. A firm crib mattress is also recommended, as it helps retain heat and provides a safe sleeping surface that supports back sleeping, reducing the risk of SIDS.
To pre-warm the crib effectively, use a hot water bottle or heating pad. Place it in the crib for a short period before your toddler's bedtime, creating a cosy environment. Remember to remove the hot water bottle or heating pad before placing your toddler in the crib to prevent overheating and potential burns.
If the room is particularly cold, consider dressing your toddler in lightweight pajamas or a thin onesie that covers most of their body. You can also swaddle your baby with a thin blanket to help maintain body heat, ensuring it's not too tight and allowing their arms to be free.
By following these steps, you can create a warm and inviting sleeping environment for your toddler, ensuring they stay cosy throughout the night without the need for heavy blankets or extra layers.
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Frequently asked questions
Moving a sleeping toddler without waking them is a tricky task. Here are some tips to increase your chances of success:
- Make sure they are in a deep sleep.
- Move slowly and gently.
- Lift your toddler correctly: slide one hand with splayed fingers gently under their head, supporting their neck, and support their bottom with your other hand.
- Keep the environment quiet and peaceful.
- Make sure they are wearing comfortable, breathable clothing.
If you know in advance that you will be transferring them from a car seat to their bed, change their diaper and feed them before you leave. That way, if you succeed in transferring them to their bed, you don't need to worry about anything other than getting them down. While they are in the car seat, you can also undo Velcro shoes, unzip jackets, and remove hats to reduce noise when you move them.
If you are moving them to a brighter room, use a night light to avoid plunging them into brightness.
If you are moving them to a colder room, you can pre-heat their cot or bassinet with a hot water bottle.
If your toddler wakes up while you're moving them, you can try whispering "shh, shhhh, shhh, you're still sleeping" over and over. It might help them think they are still sleeping so they don't wake up fully.
