
One of my favourite tools to use when supporting night weaning in toddlers is play, it is a fun approach and utilises children's main developmental task, to learning through play. Night weaning or changes in routine can be big transitions for toddlers, by introducing new concepts to children in a playful way they are less threatening and the little one can be involved in creating their own sleep plan! Here are a few of my top play tips for night weaning or changing the bedtime routine.
Teddy's Bears Bedtime
One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to help your child understand and adapt to these changes is through role-playing with toys. By acting out your new bedtime with toys your child can visualise the changes and they can project their emotions about the changes onto their dolls, allowing you to provide reassurance.
Role Reversal
I love this approach because it swaps the power dynamic, letting your little one play “parent” and put you to bed. It’s a playful way to help toddlers feel more in control.
I’ve found it helpful with children as young as 16 months, especially when they wake up distressed at night or if there’s a change in who’s handling bedtime. One parent pretends to wake up upset, while the other—alongside the toddler—offers comfort and settles them back to sleep.
Wondering when…
I love Emma Picketts’s approach from her night-weaning podcast. She recommends encouraging your children to think about how others fall asleep or when they stopped breastfeeding—especially if you’re preparing to wean. You might spark their curiosity with questions like, “Grandma, how do you fall asleep at bedtime?” or “I wonder when Peppa Pig stopped having Mummy milk?”
These are just a few of my favourite play ideas. If you’d like to discuss your little one’s sleep and how to make gentle adjustments so you can get more sleep, please book a free 15-minute consultation.