Having kids is one of the most amazing life experiences. However, that unconditional love you feel for your children is truly tested after a few nights of very little sleep! If you’re struggling to get your child to sleep you aren’t alone. Parents everywhere go through the same struggle night after night and it quickly becomes a dreaded experience. It sometimes isn’t enough investing in a good quality, comfortable bed from the Divan Bed Centre; sometimes you need to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Below you’ll discover 5 ways to ensure your child gets off to sleep quickly and easily.
1. Decrease stimulation after dinner
Stimulating activities are one of the main culprits that cause children to stay hyper at bedtime. As soon as your child has their dinner, the focus should be on winding down. It is also important not to feed them too soon before bed. Read with them or put on a DVD. There are many children’s DVDs out there that are designed to get them ready for bed. The less stimulated they feel, the less likely they will be to resist sleep.
2. Stick to a routine
As stated on the Parent website, having a routine is one of the most important things you can do. This routine should last anything from 20 to 30 minutes. TV programs and scary stories should be avoided. Again, reading is an excellent wind down activity. It not only keeps them entertained and helps you to bond with your child, but it also tires them out mentally. Learning new words and concentrating on the book will help them to feel sleepy.
3. Avoid getting stressed
If you go through the same dreaded experience every night, it’s bound to affect your stress levels. However, the more stressed out you are, the more stressed your child will become. So before you start the bedtime routine, take a few deep breaths and no matter how much yelling and crying your child throws at you, remember to stay calm.
4. Make sure everyone is on the same page
There will be times when you aren’t the one putting your child to bed. It is important to make sure everybody who will be taking over the role sticks to the same routine. Just because your child is sleeping at grandmas one night, it doesn’t mean they can stay up late. Unless the routine is followed every night, it will cause problems.
5. Ensure the bed is comfortable
As featured on the NHS site, it is really important your child’s bed is comfortable. It can be an idea to invest in a novelty bed as this will make your child want to stay in the bed. Also ensure that the room is clean and it smells fresh.
These are just five ways to ensure your child drifts off to sleep quickly. As with anything in life, it is all about patience and persistence. As long as you keep following the same routine, you will eventually start to see results.