lifestyle

Sleep: 8 Sleeping Solutions to Help Tired Children and Parents Get Rest

me • health & fitness • lifestyle • health-wellness

by Kimberley Blaine on June 4th, 2011 | 3 Comments »

Sleep: As most parents of small children know, it’s the Holy Grail. Having a child who sleep well means having a child who is more likely to be even-tempered, easier to please, and more compliant. And a mom and dad who are rested, refreshed, and ready to face the day with their energetic bundle of joy. But let her skip naptime one time and your typically happy-go-lucky toddler can quickly turn into a tantrum-throwing, argumentative, meltdown prone monster. There’s a good reason and there are solutions out there to help lull your little one into better naps and nighttimes.

Children who nap and sleep well at night have fewer behavior problems. Overly tired children can’t appropriately balance their physical and emotional world, causing them to act out and behave badly.

Children and parents both need good rest to make sure they are presenting their best self during the course of a day.Lack of sleep leads to shorter tempers on both parts, so making sure you catch enough Z’s at night can mean having kids who behave better and parents who, well, parent with more patience. So what do you if your child shuns sleep? There are eight easy things that every parent can do to get back to good nights (and days) in no time:

8 Ways to Get a Good Nights Sleep

Figure out how much sleep your child should be getting.

The amount of sleep your child needs each day varies depending on their age. Blaine says that the following guide will help you to determine whether or not your tot is getting enough shut-eye:

One year old: 13 hours
Two years old: 12–15 hours (includes nap)
Three years old: 11–14 hours (includes nap)
Four years old: 10–13 hours (includes nap)
Five years old: 10–12.5 hours (no nap)

If your child acts out, throws tantrums, or has a tendency to meltdown in the early evening hours, then there’s a good chance she isn’t getting enough sleep. If she is under the age of four years old, make sure that she takes a daytime nap on a regular schedule.

Stick to the schedule.

Set a regular time for naps and bedtime and stick to it. By keeping it consistent, your little one will know what to expect and their little bodies will begin to adjust to the circadian rhythm of the sleep schedule you set. A schedule will make naptimes and bedtimes much easier for the both of you.

Keeping a strict sleep schedule is vital to getting more rest for both you and your child. Plan your errands and day trips around naptime, and make sure that you stick to your night time schedule even on vacation. If your child knows that he can expect to sleep at the same time every day, no matter where you are or what you are doing, it will create the sleep habits you want most.

Insist on “rest time” every afternoon.

Some children are great nappers. They go down with ease at the same time every day and take a regular nap up until the age of five. And then there are the rest of us. Some children can give up their afternoon naps as early as age three but that doesn’t mean that they don’t still need to take a time-out to rest. Spend thirty minutes laying quietly with your child to encourage her to sleep. If she simply doesn’t sleep after you’ve tried to rest with her for thirty minutes, get out one of her books and continue the “rest time”.

What's important is to ensure that your child has at least a quiet time each day says. Do whatever you have to do to keep her quiet and calm. Dim the lights, get into bed, and read soothing stories. This will be a time to rest and recharge for the both of you.

Keep after dinner playtime to a minimum.

Too much activity close to bedtime can keep children from being able to fall asleep. However, it’s okay to let them play before bedtime, but Blaine says to make sure any activities they participate in are of the calm and quiet variety. Puzzles, books, or blocks are all great options for letting them relax and ready themselves for sleep.

If a child is running around outside then his energy level will remain elevated and it will take longer for him to calm himself down when its time to go to bed- making bedtime a struggle for you both. Try sitting down and read a story, or pulling up to the kitchen table with a coloring book and talk about your day together.

Make a night ritual of the bedtime routine.

Having a bedtime routine is a great way for both you and your child to unwind each day. A bedtime routine is also a great cue for them to know that bedtime is coming so they know what to expect. Keeping the same routine also helps to maintain consistency when you are not at home. This way, whether you are on vacation, spending the night at Grandma’s, or leaving your little one with a sitter for the night, their bedtime routine doesn’t change.

From the time a baby comes home from the hospital, set a relaxing routine that sets the tone for sleep. For example, every night could consist of bath time, pajamas, and story time before turning out the lights. You can repeat a portion of this routine during the daytime for naps. Your child will know that it is time to go to sleep- and it will be quiet time that you can enjoy together.

Keep the temperature just right.

Small children have a harder time regulating their own body temperature and, babies especially, can have difficulty falling and staying asleep if they are too hot or too cold. Make sure that the temperature in their bedroom is comfortable- not too warm or too cold- and that they are dressed appropriately for the temperature inside the house.

Parents don’t often realize that the temperature of the room is keeping their kids from getting good sleep. And if they are in a bedroom that is a little cooler or warmer than the rest of the house, adjust their sleepwear accordingly. If your AC is on high in the middle of the summer, it’s okay to put your little one in warm pajamas to keep him cozy through the night!

Set the sleeping mood.

When children are trying to sleep, even the tiniest distraction can keep them from getting the shut-eye they need. Any extra noise, light, or small discomfort can deter them from drifting off to dreamland. Invest in room darkening shades, a white noise machine, soft blankets- anything to make their sleep time more inviting.

Make sure that your child’s sleep environment is snug, cozy, and dark. If necessary, use a white-noise machine and a nightlight and always keep the noise level low. For daytime naps and summer days where the light hangs around long past bedtime, make sure that you have a way to block light from entering your child’s room.

The most important thing is that parents manage their expectations. When it comes down to it, you can’t force kids to sleep. All you can do is set them up for success, make sure they get some sort of rest during the day, and the rest will come. And remember that you are not alone. There are plenty of parents out there- including myself- who struggle to get their kids to sleep. Have patience, stick with it and you’ll both be having good nights and great days before you know it.

How do you make sure everyone tries to get enough sleep every night? What rules and rituals do you put in place to make sure that your family gets a good nights rest?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

About Kimberley:

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT, is the executive producer of the online parenting shows www.TheGoToMom.TV and www.MommyToMommy.TV and author of The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children and The Internet Mommy. For more great tips from the Go-To Mom, click here.

About the Book:

The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children (Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-470-58497-2, $16.95, www.TheGoToMom.com) is available at bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers. For more information on The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children, click here to view Kimberley’s book trailer.