Is getting your child to sleep through the night a challenge? Are they restless and wide awake when you’re ready to call it a day? You’re not alone! Over 50% of parents with young children experience frustrating nighttime wakings and battles before bed. Yep, if you’ve had a fidgety child at night, the familiar saying, “We can make our kiddos go to bed, but we can’t make them sleep,” hits home. Unfortunately, if one child has difficulty sleeping, the whole family’s rest is often disrupted, throwing our entire next day into a spin.
So, what can you do to prevent these after-hours wakings? Well, although we can’t order our little ones to sleep, we can help soothe their bodies, minds, and spirits. According to our friends at the National Sleep Foundation, the following pre-bedtime rituals have proven to stop bedtime battles, getting your child to sleep through the night:)
Stop late afternoon, Naps.
To help stop afternoon napping, avoid long car rides and downtime at home between 1 pm and 5 pm. Instead, have a leisurely morning at home, leaving activities for the afternoon.
Exercise before bed
After dinner, try implementing a kid-friendly evening exercise routine. Sixty minutes of family dance, tag, musical chairs, duck duck goose, or red-light-green light is fun, silly, easy, and will relax your child before sleepy time.
Magnesium Salt Bath
Magnesium naturally relaxes our bodies and, according to experts, is safe for our children. There are several kid bath salts on the market. Add the correct amount to your child’s warm bath, and they will easily relax into a good night’s rest. You can also make your own with this simple recipe from livingwellmom.com.
Keep the same bedtime seven days a week.
Varied bedtimes disrupt sleep patterns, so it’s best to choose a time and stick to it, even on the weekends. If it helps your child relax, lay down with them for a bit. Hug time always feels soothing:)
Set a calming atmosphere
Make sure their room is dark with a calming night light, lightly play soothing music or sounds, set their room temperature comfortably cool ( mid 60’s), and offer a light, yummy snack before bed to soothe any potential tummy growls. Believe it or not, our sheets also provide a sense of calm. Your kids will feel safe and secure when they stay comfy covered all by themselves:)
Steer Clear of the Blue Light
Remember to power off all devices at least 1 hour before bed. Instead of electronics, have them listen to or read a story. The library still has the old fashion read-a-long books to keep your kiddo company:) And they will be learning too;)
Fun Fact:
According to our friends at sleepfoundation.org, toddlers’ recommended sleep is 11 to 14 hours, including naps, whereas experts recommend 8 – 10 hours for preteens and teens.
Is it safe to give my child melatonin?
Sleephealthfoundation.org suggests if these natural remedies fail to help your child sleep, speak to your doctor about giving your child a low dose of melatonin 30 – 60 minutes before bedtime. Studies conducted thus far show this is a safe and effective sleep supplement for children.
At Tucked+Covered, our mission is better to sleep for the whole family:)
We understand the importance of a good night’s rest. Our sheets design gives your child the best rest possible. Try us risk-free for 30 night’s or naps and sleep the difference:) After all, if your kids sleep, then YOU sleep;) It’s that simple:)