Tips to help your toddler to sleep

Is your toddler refusing to go asleep or stay asleep? It drives you crazy sometimes, doesn’t it? Getting your toddler to fall asleep – and stay asleep – can be one of those battles you feel like you’ll never win.

Nothing you try seems to work. You put your baby to bed successfully... but two hours later, they're up! They never sleep through the night, and when they don't go to sleep, neither can you.

So everyone ends up extra cranky in the morning. It is unsustainable.

Thankfully, there are some tried and true techniques that you can use to help get your toddler to sleep and stay asleep.

Try these five tips to help your little one get to sleep:

Start the bedtime routine earlier. You can start by moving it just thirty minutes earlier. Have a routine: brush their teeth, wash their face, and play with them. Then read them a story and cuddle. After this, most kids can't help but get sleepy.

• You can help your toddler anticipate their bedtime routine by talking about it during the day. So you could say, "It'll be fun reading a book before you go to bed tonight, won't it?"

• Getting your little one to agree with this makes them more willing to go to bed on time. Kids need it.

Tough love. Tuck them in, give them a kiss and a hug, say goodnight, and tell them you love them. Turn off the light, close the door, and leave the room. Tell them you'll come to check on them later. Practice tough love and stop playing into their manipulation tactics. This is essential if they keep waking up in the middle of the night and refusing to go back to sleep. 

• Remind them that bedtime is bedtime and to stay in their bed. Put your toddler to bed and whenever they get out of bed, put them right back in without having a long discussion with them. After a couple of days, they'll figure out you won't let them have their way.

Regulate naptime. If they have two or more naps during the day, consider reducing the number of toddler naps. Instead of a daytime sleep, consider putting on a movie and then laying your child on the couch or bed for the entire movie. Tell your child that they don't have to sleep, but they do have to sit still.

• They'll sleep almost every time. It works for naps and can also work for going to bed at night. Grab a chair and sit or read to them until they drift off.

• Set a consistent bedtime and avoid letting your toddler stay up too late, as this can cause overtiredness and sleep problems.

Relaxing activities. While some recommend tiring your baby out, an overtired toddler may find it hard to sleep. The deal is that they quietly play with toys in their room for a certain period. Eventually, they'll wind down and drift off to sleep.

• It is easier for a toddler to sleep and settle when it's calm and comfortable than to suddenly fall asleep after a busy day. Try turning on white noise to help them relax and sleep. Some children sleep at night so much better with it.

  
  

A dark room environment. If your child is afraid of the dark or can't sleep without the lights on, a night light can help. Keep the main light switch out of your child's reach. Some may switch it on and off for fun or keep switching it on after you've turned it off, making it hard for the child to sleep.

• Keep the bedroom cool and dark. Keep screens out of the room. Make sure they are comfortable. Dress them lightly and turn the heat down. Sometimes the room may be too hot to stay asleep in.

It’s important to find solutions to help your child sleep. If these techniques don't help, you may want to seek help from a doctor. Maybe your child is experiencing a medical issue that a professional can help you resolve.

It generally takes a while for a child to learn to sleep through the night. There may be a period where you have to endure sleeping less at night or not having much alone time with your partner. However, the toddler bedtime routine is a phase that your child will successfully navigate with your help.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.