Wednesday Wisdom with Happy Hour 4 Kids How to help get your child to be a better sleeper! It is time to go to bed! This can be the most feared sentence you utter as a parent… However, it does not have to be! In last week’s blog, we addressed the importance of routines, as continuation to that, this week we wanted to discuss bedtime routines. Sleep is one of our primary regulators and it is crucial to have a consistent and effective bedtime routine. Contrary to what some think, good sleep habits are learned. Since it is learned, kids need to be taught. Establishing a bedtime routine will help your child, and you, to get the nights rest that you all need. It is important to remember your child’s bedtime routine does not begin and end once you put them to bed. What happens “after hours” is just as important as what happens leading up to bedtime. Keeping these 5 key elements in mind will significantly help with your child’s sleep routine. 1) 1) Establish a bedtime schedule (Example: first dinner, then bath, next a book, and finally bed) 2) 2) Set a consistent bed “time.” Children need at least 10-11 hours of sleep per night. Therefore, if your child has to be up at 7:00 AM for school they should be in be by 8:00 PM at the latest. 3) 3) Anticipate stalling tactics so you know how to handle them appropriately. (Stick to the routine!) 4) 4) Do not give in to co-sleeping because you are too tired to deal with it. Simply move them back to their beds without making a big commotion. Allowing them to stay put one night will certainly lead to a nighttime visitor the next night, the next, and the next… 5) 5) Create a united front with whomever else is involved in bedtime (i.e. Nanny, spouse, extended family etc.). Everyone should be on the same page in expectations, strategy, etc. Sleep is the gift that keeps on giving! A good night’s rest is one of the key elements to a safe, productive, and happy day!
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:09:29 +0000
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