How To Survive The Toddler Witching Hour 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

From 4-7pm are tough hours for us toddler parents. Here are some tips below to guide you through without pulling too much of your hair out: 👇

1. Keep Them Full

🥪 Feed tots a big meal after school, summer camp, or daycare. Oftentimes they get too jazzed and forget to actually eat. Small snack a couple hours before dinner, too. This can help avoid a late afternoon rage fest.

2. Quiet Time

📺📚📓Quiet time post summer camp is super helpful for a recharge. Drawing, reading, snuggles (they’ve missed you), TV time— just let them unwind a little. Set a timer for an hour and hold that boundary!

🛁 Utilize bath time as some chill time if possible - let them enjoy for as long as you need to sit in there and recharge.

Create positive reinforcement for following directions. A sticker chart or “good job high-five” can go a long way. Remember: littles understand more than we give them credit for.

3. Expectations & Boundaries

🤗 Manage expectations & repeat what is happening next and when. Push through the protesting with redirection or natural consequences (book call w me for more).

⏱️ Use timers for transitions! There are also visual timers on Amazon that are helpful for them to start to understand the concept of time. Or set your phone timer.

✅ Routine charts on Amazon are amazing for tots!!! I prefer the ones with pictures and visuals.

4. Give Yourselves Grace

Breathe. 😵‍💫 Taking care of little kids while also regulating yourself is HARD work. Give yourselves grace. Know that frustration for ALL of you is part of the learning process! Change is hard and toddlers are full of huge feelings!

😅 Be proud of yourself for taking action to improve things even if it’s far from perfect, Mama! ❤️

5. Take Our Toddler Sleep Course!

While quiet time feels like a luxury, it is possible (just check out our toddler sleep course)! So is toddler sleep. Sleep and health are non-negotiables in our house, so you may want to zone in on sleep first if you’re feeling like a zombie or “mombie.” THEN, you can focus on the other stuff once your brain is working again.

Ready to take the next step but feel like you need step-by-step support? Want written-down sleep strategies (no crying it out) to refer back to until you’ve got it down pat?

Let’s do this! More in-depth bedtime guidance can be found in my TODDLER SLEEP COURSE 🧒 $75, one hour, for all you need to know about how to gently nix:

💤bedtime stalling
💤co-sleeping
💤overnight wakings
💤 split nights
💤 early morning wakings
& sooo much more!

As always, you can book a FREE Intro Call with Jackie to see what your support options are.

Hope you’re having a great summer! 🌞

-Just Sleep Already team