How to Train Your Toddler to Do Quiet Time

Quiet time is the ultimate remedy when your toddler stops napping. Learn how to get your toddler to do quiet time with consistent training.

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The Loss of Nap Time

Ask any toddler mom: the loss of nap time is traumatic for the whole family. Suddenly you have a little human wearing you down for 12 hours straight whose most likely startling awake with nightmares on top if it. Struggling with burnout and overstimulation, you shake your fists in a fit wordlessly asking God, “what do I do?!”

Take heart that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Even when you can’t do whatever He is calling you to do in this season of motherhood, His power can be shown through your weakness. Meaning, He can do it through you. I pray that God uses this time of trial in your mom-life to refine you as gold and strengthen you for the day of evil. I ask that God would give you eyes to see the great work that He is doing in your life. And that you do not grow weary of doing good, so that, in due season, you will reap a harvest if you do not lose heart.

Why Make Your Toddler Do Quiet Time?

With all that said, let’s get to the practical advice of actionable steps you can take as a mom to regain some level of sanity within your home. Lord knows that we need to rest, moms and toddlers alike. So even though your toddler has dropped their nap, it is a healthy habit to begin training this daily practice of rest. (Meaning don’t feel mom guilt about training your toddler to do a quiet time! Most likely your toddler will hate it at first, but with consistency and proper incentives, they may even learn to look forward to it!)

The Most Important Thing for Toddler to Do Quiet Time

The most important thing to get your toddler to do quiet time is CONSISTENCY. This will be a long process and it will be a hill that you have to choose to die on. We have to pick our battles as moms and I urge you to to persevere in fighting this one.

For reference, it took me a full year to train my toddler to do a one hour quiet time each day. Some days I gave up in a puddle of tears, stressing that it would never happen. But he is now just three years old and does a successful one hour quiet time every day while my younger son naps. That time of training was well worth it and the fruits of it have been manifold. Not only do I get a break time, but it helps the whole family rest, gives my son the rest he needs, helps him to emotionally regulate a little better, and keeps us on track throughout the day as a family.

So hide that kernel of encouragement in your heart as you persevere on this training regime. Remember this is a long process that does not happen overnight. Know that it will be hard and your toddler will not want to do it. Believe that this is beneficial for your child as it will give them and the family the rest you all need.

So how to you get your toddler to do quiet time?

Practical Tips to Train Toddler to Do Quiet Time

Start Small

Step one in how to get your toddler to do quiet time is to start small. Maybe 15 minutes. You can work up to an age appropriate length of time as they get more comfortable. 15 minutes can feel like an eternity for a toddler.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you invest in this rainbow timer clock to give your toddler a fun visual aid for quiet time. I wish I had this timer when I started but I only just got it and it made ALL the difference with my son. The timer has a bright rainbow that your child can see slowly disappearing as quiet time runs out. It is a true comfort to them. I can’t recommend it enough.

Use Incentives

Another tip to get your toddler to do quiet time is to use incentives. For example, if they have a successful quiet time, reward them with a small treat such as a couple chocolate chips or a penny. Check out M is for Mama’s penny rewards system for more ideas on that. Training quiet time is similar to potty training in the sense that you want to make it as fun and rewarding as possible and then slowly wean off the rewards. You will not have to reward your child forever and you should not.

Another fun incentive that I do now that my son does a successful quiet time is “staying up late.” So now when I put my younger son down for a nap at 1pm, my older son can “stay up late.” I generally afford this privilege if he’s been well behaved that morning (which usually he is). I let him “stay up” until 1:30 and then bring him to his room for quiet time. Funnily enough this is a win win for everyone. My oldest son gets some quality time with mom and his quiet time coincides better with my younger son’s wake up time.

Open Ended Toys

Tip number three is to give your child open ended toys. Choose toys that they don’t need help to play with, that have “no end,” and are set aside specifically for quiet time.

For example, during quiet time my oldest son plays with Legos in his room (I know I can trust him not to put them in his mouth at this age). Legos are my favorite open ended toy for boys.

Open ended toys are toys that utilize imagination as the main power source. Meaning, kids can play with them in as many ways as their imagination allows. This could be a tea set with stuffed animal attendees at a tea party, a castle with figurine knights and a toy dragon, Legos or blocks of any kind, toy cars, baby dolls, hopefully you get the idea. Open ended toys are not things like puzzles, which have a set goal and finish. Or any toy that is designed to be “figured out.” Open ended toys are generally the kids of toys people have been playing with since the dawn of time…if you’re a 6 Day Creation type of Christian 😉

Security is Necessary for a Toddler to Do Quiet Time

The toddler who you are training needs to feel secure in their place within the family and be getting the love and attention they need in order to have a successful quiet time. Like I said, I firmly believe quiet time is a healthy habit to teach your toddler. But this needs to be in addition to the outpouring of love you are giving your toddler already. Quiet time can also help you to pour love into your child because it will give you the rest you need as an overwhelmed mom! Just make sure that you are balanced in your toddler routine and ask God for wisdom on the specific needs of your child.

Age Appropriate Quiet Time

Make sure that whatever length of quiet time you set for your child that it is age appropriate. It will be the hardest for everyone in the beginning because your toddler will not know what to do and you will be missing their nap!! You probably won’t know what to do either so be gentle on yourself and your toddler.

Anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours can be appropriate for preschool aged children. If your toddler drops their nap earlier than everyone “expert” told you they would (like mine) then bide your time and wait patiently for them to be developmentally ready for their quiet time.

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Let me know if you have any questions or need advice on your specific situation in the comments section down below! I pray that you are successful.