How To Help Your Child Get To Sleep On Time

As much as kids resist bedtime, it’s of vital importance for them to have a regular bedtime schedule and to get sound, undisturbed sleep. Find out how you can get your child to sleep peacefully and on time.

No kid wants to be sent to bed. While they might not realize or see the merit in getting an adequate amount of rest, sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to their holistic and cognitive development. Helping a child sleep can often prove to be quite a task. Be it playing baby sleep music, reading them stories, being there until they fall asleep, or even offering a hot beverage before hitting the bed, every parent has their own methods to ensure that their child gets the sleep they need. With the hectic lives that the children of today lead, it’s becoming increasingly important to focus on helping them get the right amount of undisturbed sleep. Here are some tips to help make your child sleep peacefully and on time.

1. SET A BEDTIME ROUTINE

Getting your child habituated to a bedtime sequence can help tell their brain that it’s time to switch off and sleep. Developing and maintaining a consistent routine is an effective way of helping your child sleep.  Be it by giving them warm milk before bed or soothing baby sleep music on a loop, as long as it is something that you do every time, your child should respond positively to it. Once the routine is set in place, they should automatically feel sleepy as it plays itself out.

2. TWO HOURS BETWEEN SCREEN TIME AND BEDTIME

An infant brain tends to be quite active. That is why it can take a bit more time to make your child sleep compared to getting yourself to fall asleep. Detaching them from any visual stimulants at least two hours before they are to be in bed can help make your child sleep faster, better, and can also reduce the strain on their eyes.

3. TEACH YOUR CHILD TO SLEEP WITHOUT THE LIGHTS ON

Research shows that the healthiest way to sleep is in complete darkness. Getting your child into the habit of not needing a night light early on can help your child sleep without any assistance as they grow up.

4. AVOID PLAYING BEFORE BEDTIME

Infants aren’t familiar with the concept of day and night. Their bodies aren’t tuned to wake up in the morning and fall asleep after dark. Certain triggers can instill sleep in them like tiredness, eating a big meal, and in some occasions, baby sleep music. They understand when their parents want to play. When they notice excitement in parents, it gets them excited too. Declining their invitations to play late in the day can help make your child realize that it is time to start winding down and give into the tiredness.

5. MAKE SURE THEY GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SLEEP

The right amount of sleep can make a world of a difference to your child’s mood, metabolism, energy levels and even digestion. The next time you try to help make your child sleep, remember that sleeping for the right amount of hours is just as important as getting them to sleep on time.