Most children pull a long face when their parents announce it’s bedtime. Unlike us adults, children find it hard to fathom why sleep is a so important and can seem overrated. But the average kid has a busy day that’s packed with school, playing with friends, homework, tests, sports activities, and taking care of pets. By the end of the day, it is only natural that their bodies need a break to be able to go on functioning just as efficiently the next day.
From boosting immunity and de-stressing the mind to increasing brain power and allowing children to grow into strong, fit adults, there are a number of reasons why sleep plays such an important role in the health of your child. So, here are a few natural remedies that can help parents coax their toddlers and young children into not fighting that dreaded bedtime hour.
How To Get Your Kid To Sleep At Night
It’s normal for young kids to have undisturbed sleep as they keep waking up at hours in the night. This is especially true if they are allowed infrequent sleep hours when they’re being weaned and are then expected to last an entire night on their own. Here are some remedies that may help.
1. Establish A Bedtime Routine
Establishing a bedtime routine that is calming on the nerves, but consistent in habit is one of the best ways to make your little one get accustomed to bedtime and sleeping. This sets the mood for sleep and makes the transition from the rest of the day to bedtime much easier for not just the child, but also for the parents. A twenty-minute hot bath, reading out a bedtime story, singing a few lullabies, or playing a quiet game are all activities that can make bedtime seem more fun for your little one.
While one doesn’t have to be too particular about the specifics of the ritual, it is important that this routine is followed consistently every day. Setting a fixed time and routine not just for weekdays, but also for weekends can help your child get accustomed to sleeping.
2. Keep The Bedroom Gadget-Free
With so many millennial parents on the rise, children are becoming increasingly hooked onto electronic devices. You may swear that the television helps your child go to sleep, but all that blue light emission is actually doing just the opposite by confusing your kid’s sleep hormones. Doctors and child behaviorists are now telling parents to limit screen-time (which includes laptops, mobile phones, tablets, computers, etc.) to no more than two hours a day while forbidding it altogether before bedtime.
3. Serve Up Some Bedtime Snacks
If your toddler or child is hungry when it’s bedtime, he is not going to find it easy to sleep. While bedtime snacks are a good idea, quick treats that are full of sugar and sodium will make your child more hyperactive and sleep more elusive. Try going for healthier snacks like a small bowl of warm whole grain bread and milk. This is usually an ideal bedtime snack since it’s high in carbs and calcium, but fairly low in protein. Alternately, you could even try giving your kids a small fruit paired with some string cheese.
4. Make Use Of A Nightlight
Many young children feel disturbed and frightened to wake up by themselves in the dark. Everything looks different to them and being unable to find their parents around them makes matters worse. Install a calming nightlight in your child’s room to reassure your child of his familiar surroundings if he does wake up in the middle of the night. This will automatically help him settle back to sleep.
Make it a habit to turn this night light on as soon as your kid gets ready for bedtime so he has a few minutes to get used to it while you’re still around.
5. Try Some Herbs
If you thought the calming and soothing effects of natural herbs were only for adults who have trouble sleeping, think again. Herbs can be just as safe and effective in relaxing your hyperactive children. From chamomile to catnip, you can choose from a variety of herbs that can either be served as a tea sweetened with honey or can be applied in the form of a soothing ointment to help induce sleep.
