Bedtime can be stressful for many parents, but it doesn't have to be. This week, Dr. Charles Fay shares some views on sleeping from the Love and Logic perspective.

Toddlers and Sleeping

Before I became a parent, I lacked respect for the glory of sleep. Now I know that it's wonderful to sleep, and it's even better when our little ones do it, too.

A cruel reality of parental life is that some toddlers don't need much of it. Regardless of how many times we tell them that they are tired, or lecture them about the importance of getting enough shut-eye, their inborn biorhythms don't seem to change.

Listed below are some of our opinions on the matter:

Every toddler is different from birth.

Some need a lot of sleep while others don't seem to.

Trying to reason or lecture them into sleeping leaves them wider awake.

Even if they won't sleep, they can still remain in their crib, playpen or bedroom for some "quiet" time.

Even if they are not quiet during "quiet" time, it's okay.

Some kids decide to cry instead of sleeping. As long as their basic needs are being met, this is okay, too.

The less stressed we are about making them keep their eyes and mouths closed, the happier everyone will be.

Someday, those toddlers who don't need much sleep will become incredibly productive adults…who don't need much sleep.