6 Ways To Help Your Kids Get To Sleep
*Collaborative Post
Most parents go through the difficult phase of getting their little ones to drift off to sleep. While us adults can’t wait to crawl under the covers, most kids need a little more convincing. They develop newfound energy right before bedtime and you feel like they’ll never get to sleep. While some children are better at sleeping than others, there are ways to help your kids get to sleep. Here are some tried and tested tips.
Set the scene
When your kids are being wild and whacky before bedtime, it can be useful to create a sense of calm and relaxation in their bedrooms. This means getting rid of any clutter and dimming the lights (check out this great LED lighting for bedrooms). They may even respond well to soothing music or a lavender scent, which has been proven to enhance sleepiness.
Create a routine
Kids need routine and stability in their lives, especially surrounding mealtimes and bedtimes. If they’re going to bed at a different time every night, their body clocks won’t adjust and they won’t feel tired. So, make sure they have a regular bedtime. If they complain, reward their good behaviour and give them an incentive. Once they show they’re able to stick to their routine and go to bed peacefully, you can push it back.
Read them a story
Children love to hear stories, especially by their beloved parents. Bedtime can be exciting and fun if they look forward to you reading them a story in a compelling way. So, try to inspire this feeling. Make them look forward to going to bed because they’ll find out what happens next, or get to hear your funny Winnie-the-Pooh impression. Just try not to make it too exciting else they might not want to drift off!
A glass of milk
While you don’t want to give your children a big meal too close to bedtime, a glass of milk could help them to fall asleep. Milk contains an amino acid, which has been proven to have sleep-inducing qualities, and melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. So, get into the habit of giving them a glass of milk before bedtime. It may just do the trick.
Eliminate any fears
Sometimes, your children might not sleep well because they are afraid of the dark or have convinced themselves there’s a monster hiding under the bed. While it’s great that your children have creative minds, it’s important not to indulge in these fears. Show them that there’s nothing there, and stay with them until they drift off, if need be. A night light will help with a fear of the dark, too.
A warm bath
We all enjoy a warm bath to iron out any stresses before bed. Your children are no different. A soothing bath could help to relax them and get them into a sleepy state before bedtime. So, pour in the bubbles and let the bath work its magic.
*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.
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