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New Year, New Sleep Goals: How to Help Your Child (and Yourself) Rest Easy in 2025

Lacy Hess • December 29, 2024

Start the New Year with Restful Nights: Proven Sleep Tips for Babies and Toddlers

As we welcome 2025, it’s a great time to focus on fresh starts and building routines that support health and well-being. While many resolutions focus on eating healthier or exercising more, it’s crucial to recognize that quality sleep is just as important for both mental and physical health.


If your baby or toddler’s sleep struggles are keeping you up at night, it can feel impossible to stick to other positive changes. Sleep deprivation often leads to exhaustion, frustration, and a lack of energy to follow through on goals. That’s why addressing your family’s sleep challenges now can set the stage for a healthier and more energized year.


Ready to help your child sleep better and reclaim your rest?


Here are three actionable sleep tips to kick off your New Year’s resolution for better sleep:


1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine


A predictable bedtime routine is the foundation of healthy sleep habits. When you follow the same calming steps every evening, your child’s body and mind will recognize it’s time to wind down for the night.


A simple yet effective bedtime routine might include:


• Offering the last bottle or nursing session of the day.


• Brushing teeth or gums.


• Dressing your child in cozy pajamas and a sleep sack.


• Reading a short story or singing a soothing lullaby.


• Placing your little one in their crib while they are calm and awake.


• Saying a consistent goodnight phrase, such as “Goodnight, I love you.”


• Turning off the lights and closing the door.


Consistency is key! This step-by-step approach helps create a smooth transition from daytime activities to bedtime.


2. Plan for Naps and Full Feeds During the Day


Daytime routines significantly impact nighttime sleep. Ensuring your child gets enough daytime rest and sufficient calories during waking hours can help prevent overtiredness and nighttime wake-ups.


To create a balanced schedule:


• Follow an eat, play, sleep routine to establish predictable rhythms and prevent a feed-to-sleep association.


• Ensure nap times are age-appropriate, and monitor wake windows to avoid overtiredness.


• Refer to these Sample Sleep Schedules that outline wake windows, nap times, and total sleep needs by age to help you design the right plan for your child.

Sample Sleep Schedules
When your child is well-rested during the day and has met their nutritional needs, bedtime will likely become smoother, and nighttime sleep will improve.

3. Build Confidence in Independent Sleep

Teaching your child to fall asleep independently is a valuable skill that requires patience and practice. While some tears may occur, it’s important to remember that crying doesn’t always signal distress—it’s often a sign of frustration as your child learns.

Here’s how to approach sleep training with confidence:

• Stay calm and consistent; your child can sense your energy and will feel more secure if you project confidence.

• Practice self-soothing techniques like slow, deep breaths to manage your own emotions during the process.

• Give your child space to practice falling asleep independently, providing reassurance when needed but avoiding over-involvement.

Over time, your child’s frustration cries will evolve into self-settling, and before you know it, they’ll be drifting off to sleep all on their own!

Looking for More Help with Your Child’s Sleep?

If these tips resonate with you and you’re ready to create lasting change, I’ve got you covered!

Start with my free resource:

Download my Top 3 Sleep Tips for Infants and Toddlers, which is packed with actionable advice to get you started on improving your child’s sleep.
Top 3 Sleep Tips

Work with me one-on-one:


Take the guesswork out of sleep training with a personalized sleep plan tailored to your child’s needs. I provide virtual support for 2–3 weeks, guiding you every step of the way. 


Book your free consultation, and let’s talk about how I can help you bring sleep back to your home in 2025.

Book Consultation

Here’s to a year of restful nights, rejuvenated parents, and happy, well-rested children!


Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to my free newsletter for weekly tips, special offers, and new resources to support your family's sleep journey.

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Lacy's Lullabies - Pediatric Sleep Consultant

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