A toddler calling once after lights-out may be checking the boundary, not starting a crisis. The pattern becomes clearer when every extra visit creates a bigger reward. 1️⃣ Toddlers are learning how actions work. If one call brings a long conversation and a second call brings another story, calling becomes a reliable way to extend bedtime. 2️⃣ Set the boundary before lights-out. Explain what happens next, offer one predictable comfort, and keep the message short. A bedtime pass or a special “watching” toy can make the limit feel concrete. 3️⃣ If you need to check in, make it brief and consistent. Safety and genuine distress come first. The aim is not to punish communication. It is to avoid turning every signal into a new negotiation. 4️⃣ Watch the daytime schedule too. A toddler who is overtired, under-tired, dropping a nap, or going through a developmental change may need a timing adjustment as well as a clear boundary. NapCue helps me see whether the bedtime calls track with a schedule change or with a repeated response pattern. That distinction makes the next step much easier. Link in bio @napcueapp 💜 #toddlersleep #toddlerbedtime #bedtimeroutine #parentingtips #newmom - @napcueapp