💤 The Sleep Struggle Is Real: What Actually Works for Babies & Toddlers in 2025

Shelly
Jun 9
3 min read

Updated: Jul 7

If you’ve ever Googled “baby won’t sleep” at 3 a.m. with one eye open, holding a bottle in one hand and your sanity in the other—you’re in the right place.

Sleep is one of the top things families ask about at A Village Childcare. And I get it. Sleep matters. It’s the foundation of child development and parental survival. So let’s break it down with zero judgment, a little humor, and a whole lot of love.

🍼 Why Won’t My Baby Sleep Like the Internet Promised?

Because your baby is a human—not a robot.

Despite what TikTok routines might say, babies don’t come pre-programmed. They’re figuring out how to regulate their bodies, emotions, and hunger—and they’re wired for connection, not quiet.

Add teething, regressions, growth spurts, and your neighbor’s dog barking at 2 a.m., and... yeah, sleep gets weird.

📆 What’s Normal for Baby & Toddler Sleep?

Babies (0–12 Months)

Newborns wake up often—this is biologically normal.
By 4–6 months, many babies begin forming sleep rhythms.
Sleep regressions (around 4, 8, and 12 months) are real and usually temporary.
Naps often vary, but a good rhythm might be 3–4 naps dropping down to 2.

Toddlers (1–3 Years)

Need 11–14 hours of total sleep (day + night).
Keep in mind that if they sleep for 2 hours during the day, they still need 9-12 hours at night.
Sleep disruptions can spike during transitions—like starting daycare or moving into a big kid bed.

🧸 What Actually Works for Sleep in 2025

Here’s what I use at A Village Childcare, and what I suggest to families every week:

✅ Consistent Bedtime Routine

Keep it simple: bath, jammies, book, cuddle, bed. Same steps every night help signal, “Time to wind down.”

✅ Earlier Bedtimes

It feels backward, but overtired kids sleep worse. A bedtime between 6:30–8:00 p.m. is golden.

✅ Create a Sleep-Friendly Space

Dark room. White noise. Cool temps. No blinking toys or light-up gadgets. Save the disco lights for your teenager.

✅ Watch Wake Windows

Overstretched wake time = overtired = meltdown. Know your baby’s natural cycle and follow sleepy cues, not the clock.

✅ Skip the Screen Time Before Bed

Screens stimulate the brain. Try books, lullabies, or dim light activities before sleep instead.

🚩 When Should I Be Concerned?

Call your pediatrician if:

Your child snores loudly, gasps in their sleep, or seems overly tired during the day
They’re not sleeping at all despite age-appropriate routines
Nightmares or anxiety are escalating

But most of the time? It's just a phase. Exhausting? Yes. Permanent? Nope.

💬 What I Tell Parents Every Day:

“You’re not doing it wrong. You’ve just got a real-life child, not a Pinterest board.” Sleep isn’t a competition, and your baby’s rhythms don’t need to match your sister’s, your neighbor’s, or that influencer with the matching nursery wallpaper.

You’re doing a great job.

🏡 Need a Nap-Supportive Daycare?

At A Village Childcare, we honor nap needs by creating calm, consistent routines that help even the wiggliest toddlers wind down.