3 Toddler Sleep Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Toddlers are relentless. They target your heartstrings, they push every boundary, and they will absolutely ask for a third bottle of milk at 2 AM just to see what happens. In this episode Sally and Bec break down the three most common toddler sleep mistakes they see every single day — and exactly how to course-correct without losing your mind.

What You'll Learn:

- Why milk feeds creep back in overnight and how reverse cycling happens with toddlers (not just babies)

- How to handle constant bedtime requests and delay tactics without feeding the cycle

- Why parent-led associations like couch sleep and cuddle-to-sleep come back after sickness or travel — and how to reset

- The bedtime pass strategy for school-aged kids with busy brains

- Why toddler tantrums are a developmental milestone, not a parenting failure

- How to hold a boundary at 2 AM when your willpower is firmly in your slippers

Chapters:

00:10 – Welcome and comment of the week

01:33 – Mistake 1: Milk feeds creeping back in overnight

05:03 – The reverse cycling trap and how it snowballs

10:40 – How to wean overnight milk with a clear plan

15:29 – Mistake 2: Constant requests to get out of bed

17:23 – Visual checklists and the bedtime pass strategy

23:44 – Why toddler tantrums are actually a milestone

31:32 – Mistake 3: Parent-led associations returning (cuddles, couch sleep)

33:44 – Not being in a rush to make sleep happen quickly

37:32 – Post-sickness and post-travel sleep resets

39:18 – The audit: environment, sleep pressure, settling technique

ABOUT NAP TRAPPED:

Nap Trapped is hosted by Sally Woods (The Sleep Concierge) and Bec Maher (The Sleep Centre) — two experienced sleep consultants who work with families around the world. They bring evidence-based guidance, warm realism and zero judgment to every episode.

Subscribe and never miss an episode: www.naptrappedpodcast.com

Links:

Sally – https://www.instagram.com/thesleepconcierge/

Bec – https://www.instagram.com/_thesleepcentre/