If you’re a parent, you’re familiar with the nightly struggle of getting your children to go to bed and sleep through the night. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. In this article, we will share top sleep solutions that are very beneficial for putting your children to bed.
There are no hard-and-fast bedtime guidelines, and each child is unique. What matters is that you establish a routine that works for your family and stick to it. Here are the top tips for getting started.
1. Make sleep a family priority
Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time for the whole family and stick to it, especially on weekends. Taking a warm bath, putting on PJs, brushing teeth, and reading good-night stories helps children feel safer about going to bed. Your child will feel more secure and comfortable if they wake up at the same time every day, eat at the same time, naps at the same time, and play simultaneously. It is beneficial for young children to establish a nighttime pattern as early as possible, such as brushing, reading, and going to bed. Make sure your sleep habits are adaptable to help your child fall asleep wherever you are.
2. Make sufficient sleep a family priority
Understand the importance of getting enough sleep and how it affects your and your children’s general health. Remember that you are your child’s role model; lead by example. Staying up all night with your teen to edit their paper or pulling an all-nighter for work isn’t the best way to communicate with your teen. Making sleep a priority for yourself demonstrates to your children that it is essential to living a healthy lifestyle, like eating well and exercising regularly.
3. Be Careful About Napping
Excessive napping might disrupt regular bedtimes and sleep quality at night. If your child takes a nap late in the afternoon and then doesn’t seem exhausted when it’s time to go to bed, the nap could be the root cause of the problem. You can try rescheduling the nap, shortening it, or skipping it entirely. If your child appears to be outgrowing their nap, try finishing schooling and dinner earlier so that you can try an earlier bedtime. Make sure your child is active and has a busy day on weekends or during the summer to be exhausted before bedtime.
4. Your child’s bedroom
Your child’s room should be dark, quiet, and well-kept. It should be well aired and maintained at a temperature of 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Install some heavy curtains to keep the light out. If there is noise outdoors, consider installing double glazing or providing your youngster with earplugs as a cheaper alternative.