Most toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. But many factors make it challenging for toddlers — and therefore mothers — to get a good night's sleep. When kids are toddlers, they're becoming more independent, and they want to be doing pretty much anything other than sleeping. Toddlers fight to keep themselves awake, even when they're exhausted. As your toddler's need for daytime naps decreases, she might be more overtired at night and, ironically, find it hard to wind down and fall asleep. Good thing so many coffee shops have drive-thrus.

Here are some tips from mommy M.D.s on getting toddlers to sleep.

"I have one fabulous sleeper and one terrible sleeper," says Heather Orman-Lubell, M.D., a pediatrician in Yardley, Pennsylvania. "I think the best thing you can do is have a regular bedtime routine so it's the same thing night after night. My husband and I break the rules sometimes, but we try to be consistent. At least my terrible sleeper is a fabulous eater!"

"My husband and I have to drive and function in high-stress jobs, whether we get a good night's sleep or not. So I've made choices to help us get our sleep, even if they weren't the 'right' parenting decisions," says Lisa Campanella-Coppo, M.D., an emergency physician in Monmouth, New Jersey. "For example, if my daughter will sleep better at night with a pacifier, that means she gets a pacifier at night. There are three of us in this family, and it's important that everyone's mental health is maintained, even if it requires some compromise. Our daughter won't walk down the aisle with her bottle or in diapers, so I'm not worried."

"My daughter had a favorite lovie and her pacifier (BB)," says Katja Rowell, M.D., a family practice physician in St. Paul, Minnesota. "She had a pretty easy temperament, and with our routine, she could self-soothe and slept wonderfully through the night. At about 1 year old, she started throwing things out of the crib and then crying for them, often several times a night. Going in there and handing her a lovie or BB got old — quickly.

I saw the "crib tent" online. It's meant to keep pets out and kids in. But the first night, when we zipped up the little mesh tent, our problem was solved! She would toss her lovies, and they would simply fall back into the crib where she could reach them — and happily fall back asleep! We used it for about eight months."

Dr. Rallie's Tips

I loved snuggling with my boys while I read them their favorite bedtime stories. Before tucking them into bed with a goodnight kiss, I'd ask them what they wanted to dream about that night. I think it might've helped them to have more sweet dreams and fewer nightmares. Asking them what they wanted to dream about helped focus their minds on positive, happy things as they were drifting off to sleep.

In the morning, I loved asking my boys what they'd dreamed about the night before. Listening to your child tell you about his dreams is a great way to learn what's on his mind, good or bad.

Because sweet dreams aren't just for nighttime, I always encouraged my boys to tell me about their dreams for the future. When my sons were toddlers, we'd sit down with a pile of old magazines and make "dream boards." I'd give them each a big piece of cardboard and some glue sticks, and I'd cut out pictures they found in magazines of things that they wanted to do, have, be or feel. Sometimes, they'd choose pictures of toys they'd like to have, but more often, they'd choose photos of a happy family on a picnic, a boy riding a skateboard, a fireman in his uniform.

While we were gluing the pictures on the cardboard, we talked about the dreams they represented — having a picnic at the playground, learning to ride a skateboard, growing up to be a fireman. I began teaching them that it's always within their power to achieve their goals.

With enough passion, belief and hard work, dreams really do come true! — Rallie McAllister, M.D., MPH, mom of three, nationally recognized health expert and family physician in Lexington, Kentucky

Jennifer Bright is a mom of four, co-founder and CEO of Momosa Publishing and co-founder of the Mommy MD Guides. She lives in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. To find out more about Jennifer Bright and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: ddimitrova at Pixabay