Even before, I always encounter problems in terms of my kids sleeping time. Sometimes I could not control the situation and give in to my child’s requests most often. If only I found these tips before my first child, they probably have lots of sleep during their childhood.
Here are some ways, how to establish healthy sleep habits.
Establish a bed time routine. Knowing what to expect is soothing and reassuring for a child. It gets his body into a pattern, so that he is tired at the same time every night. Give him a lead time of 30 minutes to an hour before lights out. This should include bathing, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth and hearing a bedtime story.
Keep the evening calm. After a busy day, kids need a peaceful transition to a quiet evening. After dinner activities should be relaxing, such as reading stories, drawing or playing board games.
Do not bend the rules. Simply establishing a routine will not suddenly make your child willing to sleep at night. Be firm. If you agree to read two books at night, don’t give in to his request for one more because he may eventually feel that he can change the rules.
Offer choices. Since you are not giving your child the option of staying up past bedtime or skipping brushing his teeth, try to find other chances for him to make decisions. But having too many choices can be too overwhelming for him. Narrow it down to two acceptable alternatives.
Prevent night frights. Before you turn out the lights, look in the closet and under the bed together so your child can see that there are no creatures hiding there. A small night light will help keep him feeling safe throughout the night.
Create comfortable environment. Your child will be more likely to stay in bed if he feels safe and happy in his room. Most importantly, do not use his room for timeouts. Choose another location for this so as not to make this a scary place to be in.
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