If you are a parent then you are definitely aware of the daily challenge that you have to endure – get the gets to go to bed. Now this may seem like a Herculean task but if you know a few tricks then you can easily prep your kid for bedtime. Bedtime is like a recurring nightmare for the parents as it is very difficult to get your little ones to sleep and it causes a lot of strain for both the parents and the children. So how to prep your kid for bedtime? Here are a few tips and tricks –
1) Sleep should be a family priority
Always set a fixed bed time for the entire family and each member should follow it diligently. Now this is easier said than done because on weekends you will have a difficult time to convince the other members to follow that schedule. But if you can do it successfully then you will notice that your kids will doze off within 15 to 20 min of going to bed when everyone else is sleeping around him or her.
2) Create an ideal environment
A child’s room should always be inducive to good sleep. It is best to keep the room quiet and dark just before the sleep-time. You can use a dim light so that he/she doesn’t get afraid and a fan or a noise machine is a good idea to create a rhythmic sound as some children need it.
3) Work as a team
If the child is not listening to you during sleep-time then discus a sleep strategy with your child and nanny try to work out the plan as a team. Otherwise it will be very difficult to change the behavior of your child.
4) Bedtime snacks
Now many paediatrician will not approve of this but there are children who would require more than three meals a day to keep their engines running. So you can give them a small snack just before bedtime to make child sleep on a full stomach throughout the night. You can try small pieces of fruit or graham crackers as they are healthy options.
5) Remove all electronics
It is okay if they play with their video games during day but make sure to remove them from their room before bed-time. All devices that mimics daylight and tricks the brain to stay awake should be removed from the bedroom. All electronic gadgets and remote control devices should be removed at least an hour before the child goes to sleep.
Preparing your kid for bedtime is not a difficult task but if you find that all your methods are failing then it is best to speak to the doctor about possible sleep disorder problems.
