Children can be fussy when it comes to sleep. Poor sleep in childhood is often associated with health problems later on in life. It is important for parents to ensure their kids get good sleep at night. Following are some tips which will help your child go to sleep early:
1. Do not feed your child heavy meals before bedtime.
2. A room should be cozy with soothing colours and it should not be too dark.
3. Keep the bedtime routine same every night. Make sure your child goes to sleep at the same time.
4. Avoid invigorating activities when bedtime nears. This results in children getting refreshed and ready for more action than sleep.
5. Giving children warm milk before they go to sleep will help them get sound sleep. Apart from milk, you can also feed banana, turkey, peanuts or yogurt at least 30 minutes before bedtime. These foods have sleep-inducing properties in them.
6. Make sure that your child wears comfortable clothes. They should not restrict movement. Also ensure that the temperature of the room is not too warm or too cold.
7. Layer up your child with cozy socks or slippers with bunnies on it. This will relax and make them fall asleep.
8. Avoid telling your kids scary stories, instead tell them light fairytales with the lights off. They will surely fall asleep before you finish your story.
9. Tell your child that their bedtime is in five minutes or ask them firmly, "Do you want to go to bed now or in five minutes?" However, do this occasionally.
10. Silence is a prerequisite for any sound sleep and as bedtime nears, a gradual lowering of sounds and activities is desirable. There should not be any disturbances when your child goes to sleep.
