TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD SLEEP BETTER.
TIPS FOR GETTING A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.
Just as eating healthy and being active is important, so is getting a good night’s sleep vital to your child’s health and development.
TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD SLEEP BETTER.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise.
Most school-age children will need an average of 10 hours of nighttime sleep. If they have to wake up by 6 am to get ready for school, they will have to be in bed by 8 pm to get the recommended 10 hours of sleep that they need. Click here to see how much sleep your child actually needs.
Start a Strict Sleep Schedule.
Start a strict sleep schedule and stick to it. Bedtime starts before getting on the bed. Set your alarm or music routine to start 30 minutes before bedtime.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day—even on weekends. If they want to sleep late and sleep in on weekends, don’t adjust your strict sleep schedule for longer than one hour.
Note that afternoon naps can boost your child’s brain power, but naps after 3 pm can make it harder for your child to fall asleep at night. Also, keep naps to under an hour.
Shadows and Shades are Your Friends.
Shadows and dimness allow your body to release melatonin, the hormone which causes your child to feel sleepy. But the hormone’s drowsy effect doesn’t start until after 30 minutes.
Remember that bedtime doesn’t start on the bed. Bedtime starts with turning off the lights after dinner.
Trick your brain: Turn off or dim the lights 30 minutes before bedtime. Children don’t have to brush their teeth in a brightly lit bathroom. Keep your child’s bedroom dark. Use blackout curtains and don’t have more than one dim night light in the bedroom.
“Bedtime starts with turning off the lights after dinner.”
Click here for more tips and tricks to help your baby sleep well.
Your Baby’s Comfort is Our Mission
Andrew Faniku MD
Andrew Faniku is a pediatrician and father of four who focuses on giving parents practical guidance for a calmer, more comfortable beginning with their babies. He also writes short stories, paints in acrylics, and is steadily building his presence on social media. Connect with him online for more parenting tips and insight.
