Tips & Tricks for Getting Your Kids to Sleep at Night

Night time can pose some issues for some families. Many children fear the dark and fear sleeping on their own with their parents in a different room. It’s far more common than you may think for children to sleep in their parents’ bed/room. But after a while if repeated, it can turn into an unhealthy habit.

Why is it an Unhealthy Habit?

By allowing your child/children to sleep in your bed or in your room, you are letting them believe there is something to be afraid of in their room or simply at night time. This process of allowing them into your room can easily turn into a habit and become almost uncontrollable over time.

Why is it Important to Avoid the Formation of Bad Sleeping Habits?

It’s vital to avoid any formation of these habits for some fairly basic reasons. It’s important to teach your children to be independent and confident, not fearful and paranoid. Similarly, it’s equally as important to teach children to that their home and bedroom is a safe space where they never have to feel afraid. During our early years, our brain develops at a drastic pace and habits we form when we’re young can stick with us indefinitely.

How can we Avoid Bad Sleeping Habits?

If you can help your child get to sleep quicker, there is less chance of them asking to sleep in your bedroom.

• Get the Right Amount of Sleep
  Ensure your child is getting the right amount of sleep for their age. Now while everyone differs, you will become aware of how many hours leaves them refreshed and energised.
• Create a Good Sleeping Environment
  Ensure your child’s bedroom is a safe place that they feel comfortable in and enjoy playing in. Ask them how they would like to decorate it and make sure at night it’s nice and dark and cool. If fairy lights, or a night light would make things easier for them, oblige.
• Routine
  Routine can be one of the best ways to avoid bad habits forming. So ensure your children go to sleep at the exact same time every night and that way they will most likely wake up at the same time each morning. A healthy routine might include, a relaxing bath, dinner, brushing teeth, one or two stories and sleeping at the same time each night.
• Avoid Meals, Sugar and Caffeine Before Bedtime
  This is a fairly obvious one, but it’s easy to forget – especially when dessert comes into play! But ensuring you avoid any of these things at least a few hours before bedtime is crucial. However, caffeine for young children is never a great idea.
• Ensure They Exercise Regularly
  Now when we say exercise, we don’t mean intense physical endurance, just simply running around outdoors or swimming at the beach or pool. Anything that gets them outside, even a walk is fine.

Ensuring your child develops healthy sleeping habits at a young pave the way for healthy habitual development throughout their life. Not to mention, it makes things easier on the rest of the family – interrupted sleeping can cause all sorts of unwanted situations and your own unhealthy sleeping habits.