A healthy amount of sleep is necessary for a child’s physical, emotional, and mental growth. However, bedtime can also be an ongoing battle. Questions such as, “How do I get my child to sleep on time?” or “How do I make sure they get enough sleep?” are common.
How can a bedtime routine help?
Routine is a powerful training tool, even if you are training your child to sleep. Children love and thrive on routines; establishing a consistent bedtime routine at an early age saves you a lot of future headaches. While every household and each child’s individual needs are different, these tips can help you improve sleep hygiene and establish a consistent bedtime routine:
Tips and best practices
Remove any electronics from your child’s bedroom.
Screen time can have a negative effect on sleep—both the amount and the quality. Access to electronics should be limited at least one hour before bedtime.
Bedtime routines should be quiet, and take place in the child’s bedroom.
This is the perfect time to read stories with your child!
Create a schedule for each of the bedtime routine steps.
Some children will benefit from a visual schedule that has a picture of each individual step.
Each child is different.
What works for one child may not work for another. Some children may find bath time a relaxing experience, while others become more excited. You may need to move bath time earlier in the evening if a bath tends to energize your child.
Stuffed animals can be distracting
Look at where your child will be sleeping. Are there lots of toys and stuffed animals? If so, these may be distracting and cause your child to play when they should be sleeping. Try limiting the stuffed animals to one or two.
Wait
If your child calls out for you, wait a few seconds before answering. Make the wait time longer each time he or she calls for you. Give your child a chance to fall asleep on his or her own.
Temperature
Make sure your child’s bedroom is cool. Don’t feel that your child needs to be bundled up to go to bed.
One last word
An individualized bedtime routine takes time to figure out. But once you have figured out what works, make sure you stick to it. Consistency is key! Even on the weekends, and when away on vacation, sticking as closely to the bedtime routine as possible will help your child to set their internal body clock. You should see positive results in the long run.
Sources
https://www.tutortime.com/blog/2018/08/establishing-consistent-bedtime-routines/
Mon-Sat