Bedtime battles - How to make your kid sleep on time

Kids have trouble sleeping all the time and that is how happy go lucky couples transcend to a state when they are eternally sleepy during the day as they are battling their kids at night. It is not that kids hate going to sleep but that they are still not accustomed to sleeping at night because of a number of reasons. We look a few that will save you from all the trouble at night.

Watch the excessive Siesta

Kids love taking a nap in the noon especially after a full meal. It is neither healthy nor productive for you as a parent. Though a nap is recommended for the kid in the noon it shouldn’t be on a full stomach and should be more of a resting period than falling asleep for a long time. Deep sleep kicks in after an hour or so after the kid goes to sleep and after a period of good deep sleep the kid will feel so fresh that he/she does not feel the need to go to bed at night.

Solution: Create some fun activity that involves a little physical activity (but not too much that the kid gets tired) after lunch. If the kid does fall asleep try easing them up from the sleep after an hour.

If your kid goes to a Day Care center, ensure that they do not let the kid sleep for too long during the day. Most child care centers have only 90 mins of nap time in the noon which is scientifically right.

Playtime after dinner

Most parents try to put their kids to sleep immediately after dinner. It is the wrong practice since the food doesn’t get digested easily and also the kid is still fresh. Get the kid to play around for a while and give them a nice soapy bath and read their favorite bedtime story. The physical strain of playing, the comforting bath and the mental imagination of the story put together will definitely drive them to sleep.

Ambiance matters!

Most parents do not understand this but the bed does matter! If you kid is too big for a baby cot they might feel claustrophobic causing lack of sleep. On the other hand, a big bed for a small kid gives them a lot of space to move around and stay awake for longer.

If the place is too noisy or if you have the habit of watching TV or listening to songs, you might still fall asleep but the kid might not! Is your kid complaining about monsters? Turn on a small light or leave the door open. Also, make sure you play along and check for monsters under the bed or in the closet and assure them that all is fine. Your child’s fears are a product of the images you feed into their minds so make sure your stories have friendly characters.

Following these tips should help your kid sleep better and in turn helps you get a better night’s sleep.