Nothing is more satisfying to a parent than seeing their child sleep comfortably for the whole night. However, when they’re tucked into their beds in their girls pyjamas, their brains are still working tirelessly on developmental processes, including memory consolidation. Memory consolidation is the process of organizing a person’s experiences while learning and unlearning particular things.
Sleep is important for everyone but mostly for kids developing physically and mentally. Sadly, knowing that sleep is important to your kid is not a guarantee that they’ll have it. This blog will explain four helpful suggestions to keep your child comfortable for the entire night. Read on to find out more.
1. Create a bedtime plan
It’s important to develop a bedtime routine to help your child sleep comfortably at night. It may be as easy as singing a song or turning on a white-noise machine if you have an infant. If the child is older, you can seek their opinions when creating the plan. Let them suggest the number of books to read or any other activity. Doing so gives them a sense of control and helps them identify their settling needs.
Consequently, list these activities in sequence form – put on girls pyjamas, brush teeth, read a book, lights out – so everyone knows what to do.
2. Spend more time together
Some children tend to become unsettled during bedtime hours because that’s when they’re longing for more attention. Parents often work during the day and spend the evenings with their kids. Alternatively, when the parents are home full time, the children may rely on them for the presence of comfort. Either way, it’s a great idea to spend some time talking about how their day went or inform them of certain things you’ve recently realized about them.
3. Turn off any electronic screens
Screens are bad for sleep because blue light stimulates the child’s brain. As a result, children may feel wired when they should be resting. Electronic screens also affect the secretion of the sleep hormones – serotonin and melatonin. It’s recommended to switch off any screens one or two hours before going to bed.
Limiting time spent on screens is also beneficial to children in other ways. Children tend to become more active and burn through their physical energy when they’re off the screens. When they’re exhausted in the evening, it becomes easier to settle down and sleep comfortably for the whole night.
4. Adhere to the routine
Sticking to a particular bedtime ritual provides children with predictability and helps them feel more secure. Ideally, children should sleep and wake at the same times daily, including on weekends. They ideally need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep. The more sleep they get, the better rested they will be in the morning. Therefore, if your child has to wake up early for school, it’d be best to ensure their bedtime hours are early enough to get a good night’s rest.