4 MAJOR TIPS to give our kids the best ZZZ's possible!

​Getting adequate sleep is crucial for everyone but especially for young children. It promotes overall good health and it also allows for parents to get a much needed break in the evenings as well as good nights sleep themselves. Having a child go to bed late because they say they are not tired, a child who can’t fall asleep on their own or a child who wakes up in the middle of the night seeking their parents comfort can all hinder the good sleep that is needed for the whole family.

As a parenting coach who specializes in children's behaviour & discipline, I have found that it is extremely important for parents to create a pleasant atmosphere for bedtime as this can help children to relax, feel secure, fall asleep quickly and stay asleep through out the night. Making bedtime a positive and comfortable experience can help decrease a child’s negative behaviour, increase their listening and prepare the child for a really good nights sleep!

Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services has helped many parents help their children fall asleep quickly and successfully. Here are some of the key tips to consider for children to receive adequate sleep:

1.) TEMPERATURE: Controlling the room’s temperature (slightly on the cooler side) makes for an ideal way to drift off into sleep comfortably. Rooms that are too hot (especially in the summer days) can make it very difficult for children to fall asleep keeping them up longer as well as promote  discomfort. Ensure you have the safe & proper ways to heat the room during cold days as well as a way to keep the room cool during hotter days.

2.) DARKNESS: Making the room as dark as possible at bedtimes, can help the child’s brain & body prepare for a good nights rest. Even doing part of the bedtime routine such as getting dressed into pyjamas and reading a book in a softly lit, dark room, helps that child successfully prepare for going to bed. Black-out blinds are helpful when the days are long or for nap times mid-day. If your child is afraid of the dark, a very small nightlight can help but ensure the majority of the room is dark.

3.) COMFORT: A comfortable bed is key! Nothing promotes going to sleep and staying asleep more than a comfortable bed. A good mattress such as the one’s offered by CASPER (they sell innovative mattresses, sheets and pillows that are top quality in comfort www.casper.com) can make a child   sleep really well. Getting your child to sleep and getting them to sleep through the night are the two major concerns for most parents and a good mattress can definitely help out in that area.

4.) QUIETNESS: Allowing a child some downtime right before bed can also help them calm down as well as minimize negative behaviours. It also allows them to prepare for a peaceful nights sleep. Activities such as reading books, colouring, taking deep breaths or even stretching are ideal to help a child to relax and calm down.

Most of the time when children have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, isn’t because they don’t know how sleep but rather it is a behavioural issue which is triggered by the facts that they don’t feel safe or self-secure which can lead to them not feeling confident to part from their parents and fall asleep on their own. Creating a comforting environment with all the elements such as proper temperature, less light, more comfort and less noise can help minimize the negative behaviours and encourage the much needed self-security and independence that is required for a child to fall asleep and stay asleep.

If you would like a complimentary 30 minute initial phone call to discuss your concerns with your child's sleep or any other  behavioural issue, please contact us anytime. 
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​Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535