How the Toniebox transformed a sleep expert's bedtime routine

Hi, I’m Amy. I found a passion for everything sleep-related when I had my first child, Stanley. I knew my years of coaching within schools and the tried and tested knowledge I had gained, could really help support families. Fast-forward and 'Peace of The Moon' has now supported many families to resolve sleep problems with gentle sleep coaching. So today, I wanted to share one of my favourite tools from my ‘toddler toolkit’ to help create a positive sleep space...

As parents, we are often searching for the newest gadget to help our children sleep better. During the late evenings, we find ourselves scouring the internet for answers. ‘How to get my toddler to stay in their own bed?!’ ‘Why won’t my child sleep without me there?’.

What are the common bedtime battles?

Let’s face it, most of us have faced some sort of battle with sleep and as a Paediatric Sleep Expert and Mum of 2, I know firsthand how common sleep struggles are for parents. I hate to break it to you, it doesn’t just magically get better once they become a toddler. You may even have a baby that sleeps through the night but once they hit toddlerhood, they develop a new sense of freedom and begin to test boundaries.

Almost 50% of my clients are parents of toddlers and they are my favourite age to work with. Why? Because each of them have this new, emerging personality and temperament and no child is the same; what may work for one, may not work for another. I have a huge ‘toddler toolkit’ when it comes to improving the sleep of toddlers and young children, and the Toniebox is a new favourite!

How did we start using the Toniebox at bedtime?

As my children began to use their Toniebox during the day, I started to notice the calming influence it had over them. They were no longer asking for the TV on and as they played with their toys, they listened to the Tonie stories. I started to wonder if the Toniebox could help with the biggest transition of them all: the transition from cot to bed!

For me, this was the biggest transition as a parent, and one which really got to me emotionally. Where had my little baby gone? As a Sleep Coach, I knew I was likely to face some bedtime battles with this transition. There was no way that he would just stay in his bed and not get out, surely? With this new sense of freedom, how would I keep him there? And more importantly, how would I ensure he felt safe, when the bars that provided this security dropped?

The big night arrived. And it went how I expected… Numerous trips back to bed, numerous tantrums on the landing. It was a big change for him and I understood that. The next two nights were similar, until he finally admitted defeat and slept. I knew if I remained consistent, he would eventually adapt and go back to sleep, but bedtime was now becoming a ‘negative’ space and I didn’t want that.

We have always kept Stanley’s room a relaxing environment and never made it a punishment to go to bed. We have always talked about the importance of sleep for our bodies, but now this was the place where we had the battles. Something had to change fast. 

How did the first night using the Toniebox go?

He was so excited when I told him that after his two books, he could listen to his new Tonie, as long as he stayed in bed. I explained that the story would help him to relax and reminded him that I was always close by if he needed me. Lo and behold, he didn’t need me, not once. He stayed in bed. I watched him on the monitor get comfy with his teddies as he listened to the story and relaxed. He fell asleep in just 15 minutes, the story and the soothing voices providing much-needed comfort. Absolute magic.

What does our bedtime routine look like now?

The Toniebox is now a solid part of our bedtime routine and is here to stay. Bedtimes have once again become peaceful, his bedroom is a positive space and he looks forward to getting into his bed each night.

What’s even more exciting is their Sleepy Friends collection which includes relaxing stories, lullabies, and even white noise for little ones. I am so excited to see how this range develops and how they support even more families to get better sleep. 

Thank you, tonies®, for creating such a wonderful bedtime tool. The power that little box has for toddlers and young children at bedtime is just incredible.