After the Kids Have Gone to Bed *9 key pointers to a good night’s peaceful slumber
Okay, it is tough to put your babe to bed, he or she tugs at your heart strings…. please don’t worry it is not punishment like a “go to your room!” it is more like “get into bed, rest and grow!” because this time of sleeping is essential for all ages. It is vital that you empower yourself in the sense that this is part of healthcare. Because we all need sleep, it is essential to function, yes you can die if you don’t sleep!
I have been reading Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep and it states the need to sleep is part of our human existence please give your children the sleep they need… stuck because it is tough to get them to stay in bed? here are some tips!
Ensure your child is sleepy, it shows that the melatonin in their brain is triggering sleep and this is a healthy sign. So then it is necessary to have a routine to engage sleep..
Firstly whatever age they are make sure they have a small drink of fresh water (cold water which has been run cold like a kind of chilled can of drink would be, takes the bite off). Keep the drink leftovers in their room, but it is vital they have some water to drink before bed, we lose a lot of water at night.
Read a story if it helps, and sing a lullaby, children love to be sung to, it helps engage their brain into a positive state and restfulness with trust and love. Lights out! Maybe leave the hallway light on if needed.
Tuck them in tight as they begin to ‘nod off’ and then they will sleep in comfort and feel cared and nurtured.
Stay put until they are fully ‘out of it’ and ‘in dreamland’ just gradually bless them and then exit, this may take a few minutes, just trust and allow them to put themselves into a deep sleep.
Don’t hang about checking up on them, just leave them to rest.
Should they wake up in the night needing comfort, their instincts of survival is to be in a clan/tribe so don’t panic, this is a natural survival instinct, (unless still night-feeding), and all that is needed is a little comfort. Gracie used to actually get out of bed and ask to be taken downstairs, no way! Best way I found is to engage a hug and a “Shhhhh” rocking her and she is comforted that she is safe. So once baby/toddler is calm and sleepy headed, is to place babe into bed, again tuck them in like a bug in a rug, but do not say words, I will say why later.
Gently gently softly softly leave the room. If they wake up in the night again, don’t say anything just pick them up, no eye contact just rock them they will nod off and as above tuck them in and they will instantly nod off, and leave quietly and taking your time, may take a few minutes, remember sleep is vital for their brains and development and growth.
Chill out, plan a nice evening!
One of the reasons to not speak at tucking into bed time is that they have all sorts of work going on in their brains and once you speak or say “go to sleep” you know in wake time when you give them instructions that they will have a question: “Why?” So it is vital to help them to settle with as little information as possible, the story will have engaged their imaginations ready for rest.
Try this and I swear it works!!