Having a child can be an incredible experience, but it can also be a difficult one.
No one ever seems to tell new parents everything they can expect to face, and that includes the difficulty many parents face attempting to helping their child fall asleep.
Everyone knows that parents don’t get much sleep, but did you know that your child might find it just as difficult to relax and unwind?
If your child is struggling to get the quality rest they need to thrive, take a look at these six natural ways to help them fall asleep at night.
1. Create a Structured Bedtime Routine
Children do well with structure—it gives them something to expect and allows them to become familiar with different processes and expectations.
Bedtime is no different. Begin the “unwind” process, including turning off the television, dimming the lights, and reducing activity in the house, about 15 to 30 minutes before it’s time to brush teeth, take a bath, and put on pajamas.
2. Make Their Environment Conducive to Sleep
According to House Method, having a conducive sleep environment can lead to more optimal sleep.
Remove all the clutter in the room (this can cause anxiety and stress levels to rise), keep it at a cool temperature, and consider using a white noise machine to cancel out noise.
This helps your child relax and stay asleep.
3. Try Some Lavender
Lavender can be a helpful and easy way to promote relaxation and get your child to sleep.
It has been shown that even the scent of lavender is often soothing.
If your child is not sensitive to fragrances, consider an oil diffuser or room spray that releases a gentle aroma of the plant through the room as bedtime rolls around.
As your child is getting ready to sleep, they’ll breathe in the scent and experience its calming properties.
4. Make Physical Activity a Priority
Another way to help your children sleep at night is to ensure they’re getting plenty of exercise during the day.
Encourage them to ride their bikes, take them on a hike, let them run around the backyard, or teach them how to build snowmen—no matter what time of year, there are activities to help tire your child out so that sleep comes naturally.
5. Address Bedtime Fears
Parents are often quick to dismiss bedtime fears about the closet or under the bed, but taking some time to address these issues can do wonders.
If your child is scared about something hiding in the closet, for example, try showing them it’s clear inside. You can also try giving them a specific toy to help “guard” them as they sleep.
6. Tell Them a Story
A bedtime story can help children relax and forget about anything that might be worrying them.
Pick fun, engaging stories and read them to your child as they lay in bed. Chances are good that they’ll begin drifting off before you ever get to the end.
Getting your child to sleep can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be an impossible one to overcome. Take a look at these six tips to help your kids fall asleep naturally.
There Ya Go!
Trying to help your child fall asleep naturally can take time, but treasure each moment and enjoy helping your child enjoy sleeping on their own!
Over to you –
What have you done to help your child fall asleep on their own?
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