Get your child to sleep better

Kids need plenty of sleep for kids to be strong and healthy. As a parent, you may be aware of this, but your child may not fall asleep easily. To help you solve this problem, Adam Seligman, who works at the Stanford Children's Health Sleep Center, offers some ideas to address the issue.

Spend time together

Some children need a little attention from someone close to them (such as a guardian or caregiver) to fall asleep comfortably. This is often the case for children who don't get to spend quality time with their parents for various reasons, such as work. However, children feel more comfortable and protected when a caregiver is always present. Therefore, you must sacrifice a few minutes in the evening so that you can spend time with your children. Find out if they are okay by asking them about their health issues. For babies, you can cuddle them for at least 10 minutes while maintaining eye contact or singing lullabies.

Come up with a bedtime plan

A bedtime plan can help your child get ready for a better night's sleep and get used to the routine. For infants, it's as easy as singing a few lullabies. However, for older children, you can ask them to provide some ideas for a bedtime plan. Let your older child decide on the number of books he or she wants to read at bedtime (bedtime stories help children identify what settles them down at bedtime). After coming up with a bedtime plan, the next step is to list all the ideas in order-"dress for bed, brush teeth, read a bedtime story, cuddle, turn off the light"-and all children will realize what needs to be done and what's done. For children who cannot read, you can use a chart with pictures. Once you've completed the plan, review it one last time and then rehearse it with your children so they don't easily forget.

Stick to the routine.

Children feel safer when they know what needs to be done. Therefore, it is important that you and your children follow a routine so that everyone can fall asleep easily. In addition to being able to fall asleep easily, the children will have no problem waking up the next day. Do not change the routine even on weekends, as such behavior can affect your child's sleep patterns and make it difficult for them to wake up during the school day. Younger children need at least 10 or 12 hours of sleep per night. So if your child gets up early in the morning for school, make sure they also go to bed early so they get enough rest.

Turn off anything that might disturb your child's sleep.

To create an ideal sleeping environment and make sure they're comfortable, check out these IKEA mattress reviews. Turn off anything that can disturb your child's sleep, such as the TV and other electronics. Such gadgets are known to prevent the production of serotonin and melatonin levels, which can affect sleep and wake cycles. Therefore, you should turn off the screen at least one hour before bedtime. Also, limit the number of hours your children watch TV so they can stay active during the day and night.

Should you rely on sleep technology?

Several gadgets have been introduced to help children fall asleep. Some of these gadgets are designed with special features, such as lights and alarms, to help your child fall asleep and wake them up in the morning. A good example of such a gadget is FitBit, which can also be used as a screening tool for various sleep problems. However, you also need to understand that these gadgets are not diagnostic tools. This means that if your child is not getting enough rest, you may need to see a sleep specialist.

Be optimistic

Not all children know how to tell time. For children who are unable to do so, you can use clocks that use different colors to indicate different periods. Also, reward your child for keeping time. You can give them gifts, such as sticker charts, or play their favorite games together. If your child is a slow learner, be patient and stay positive as you encourage them to stick to bedtime.