“Helping Your Child Develop Good Sleep Habits”

Helping Your Child Develop Good Sleep Habits

Good sleep habits can be one of the most rewarding things to teach your child. Most children tend to resist bedtime and having a consistent sleep routine can help combat this. Developing good sleep habits can make a big difference in how well your child sleeps, their behavior, and how they perform in school.

Creating A Sleep Routine

Creating a routine for your child to follow for sleep will help them to learn when is an appropriate time for them to go to bed and get enough rest. To establish a sleep routine you should try to do the following:

• Keep bedtime consistent – try to put your child to bed at the same time every night at least 6 days out of the week.
• Include calming activities – before bed read your child a calming story, or engage in calming activities such as yoga or mindfulness practices.
• Limit activities before bed – avoid having your child engage in activities that are overly stimulating or vigorous activity close to bedtime. It is important that your child is relaxed and ready to sleep instead of feeling active and energized.

Creating An Environment That Is Conducive To Sleep

Creating an environment that is conducive to sleep is not only important for promoting healthy sleep habits in your child but it is also important for promoting overall wellbeing. To create a sleep-friendly atmosphere you should try to do the following:

• Keep the room dark – if your child needs to sleep with a nightlight make sure it is not so bright that it will keep them awake.
• Reduce noise – reduce noise levels in your child’s bedroom or use a fan or white noise machine if it is too loud.
• Keep distractions away – keep your child’s bedroom free of distractions such as tablets, video games, and other electronics that might cause them to stay up late.

Promoting Good Sleep Habits

Finally, it is important to promote good sleep habits in your child. You should encourage them to practice good sleep hygiene and to be aware of how their sleeping habits can affect their overall health and wellbeing.

• Encourage naps – naps are a great way to give your child extra rest so be sure to encourage them to get enough sleep.
• No caffeine – caffeine can make it harder for your child to fall asleep so avoid giving them drinks that contain caffeine.
• Stay active – physical activity is important for overall health, so encourage your child to be active during the day so they are tired come bedtime.

Developing good sleep habits can help ensure your child is getting the quality sleep they need to grow and develop. With a little bit of dedication and preparation, you can help your child develop good sleep habits and enjoy a lifetime of healthy sleep.