How To Stop A Toddler From Taking Off Their Pajamas At Night

At the end of a long day, bedtime is a sacred time for parents. You’ve survived another day with your toddler, and you finally have the chance to put your feet up, relax, or go to bed yourself.

Imagine your surprise when you peek at the baby monitor, and you see your toddler undressing themselves in their bed. With a deep sigh, you head back into the nursery to see what’s going on.

Removing their clothes at bedtime is a very normal behavior for toddlers. They’re learning new skills each day, and you’re instilling independence by teaching them to pick out their clothes and dress themselves. You may feel like these lessons are backfiring as your child is removing their clothes when they should be drifting off into dreamland.

But don’t sweat it! We’ve collected the most efficient, tried-and-true tips and recommendations from seasoned parents who have experienced this behavior with their own toddlers and lived to tell the tale.

Here’s how you can combat this behavior and ensure your child is safe and sleeping through the night, so you can too!

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Turn the Thermostat Down

Parents are often concerned with their babies being too cold, especially at nighttime. However, toddlers typically run pretty warm! If they’re too bundled up at night, chances are good your child will attempt to remove some of their clothing, so they can get comfortable.

Try turning the thermostat down to around 70 degrees or turn on a fan in their room to circulate the air better. If it’s spring or summer, you can open the window to welcome a breeze into the room, which will keep your toddler cool all night long. Movement in the room can also act as a natural sound machine and may lull your toddler to sleep anyway. We’ll chalk that up to a win!

Opt for Cooler Pajamas

In the winter, you may be tempted to dress your child in warm pajamas that are made from materials like thick cotton, flannel, or fleece. In theory, cozy PJs are the way to go to keep your kiddo warm and comfy. However, if your toddler runs warm, they may be more inclined to try and remove these fuzzy jammies so they can cool off.

If they are clammy or sweaty when you go to check on them, it may be time to ditch the warm pajamas and opt for something cooler. Instead, choose light, breathable fabrics that are loose-fitting, like this cozy set from Amazon.

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Let Your Child Sleep Naked

As your toddler grows and hits new milestones, exploring their bodies is a very normal occurrence. Don’t sweat this new behavior; it is simply another sign that your child is growing and changing!

If you attempt any of the aforementioned changes and your child is still removing their pajamas at night, just let them do it. As long as they are still wearing a Pull-Up (if they need one), there’s truly no harm in letting them sleep naked. It’s highly likely they will move on from the behavior after a few nights.

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Move Bedtime Back

Many children take their clothing off in bed out of boredom as they wait for sleep to come. If your child has started doing this, consider delaying bedtime by ten or 20 minutes. Toddlers and children should not lie awake for more than 20 minutes, so if your child is taking a long time to fall asleep, this may be the issue. You can also take a look at your bedtime routine and see if there are ways to promote a calmer sleep environment.

Try extending bedtime with another story, sing some sleep lullabies, and have their sound machine or nightlight already on when they get to their room. This will create a soothing environment that will encourage sleep rather than getting them excited and rowdy for their evening routine.

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Check the PJs

Another reason your child may be undressing is because they’re uncomfortable. Whether their diaper is full or the pajama material is itchy and uncomfortable, some toddlers may not be able to communicate this yet. You can try asking them if they need to go potty or if they don’t like their pajamas and see what the response is. Check to see if there are any tags poking them, if their diaper is twisted or sagging, or if anything else looks awry.

Check Out Our Tips On: How To Keep A Toddler Out Of The Fridge

Watch Your Reactions

How do you respond when your toddler takes off their pajamas? If you make a big fuss, they learn to associate this behavior with your reaction and will continue to do so for attention. Try to avoid having a major reaction or scolding your child when they take off their jammies. Instead, pay less attention to their lack of clothing and say something like, “Let’s get you settled down for the night!” or “We need to rest for our big day tomorrow. Let’s lay back down, please.”

Looking for fun ideas to bond with your toddler? Try ice skating. Check out our post on the Best Ice Skates for Toddlers.

Encourage Their Independence

As you know, toddlers love to be involved in every aspect of their lives. Independence is critical at this age; it instills self-confidence and creativity from a very young age. By allowing them to choose their own pajamas, you can encourage their buy-in to what they’re wearing and potentially avoid removal of the PJs at bedtime. This may not work right away, but in time, they will feel proud of choosing their own pajamas and clothing and will be more inclined to keep them on.

More parenting tips: How To Handle A Toddler Kicking During Diaper Change

Buy Zipper PJs

If nothing else seems to be working, it’s time to get creative and prevent your child from getting their PJs off. Many parents invest in onesies that snap because they can be more difficult to remove than zippers. Others try putting onesies on backward so their children can’t reach the zipper to remove them.

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Final Thoughts On Toddler Taking Off Pajamas At Night

Like so many other behaviors your child exhibits, removing their PJs at bedtime is just a phase. It can be challenging to meet these changes with humor and patience, so try to remember that this too shall pass. As they learn and grow, kids look to their parents for positive reinforcement that everything is alright. You are their biggest teacher, so be sure to guide them and nurture them, even when you’re losing patience. Good luck out there!