What is it about a child’s bedtime that makes children and parents alike absolutely crazy?
It’s like the kids turn into different people, maybe they sense the weakness in their moms and dads, knowing that we are already so close to the breaking point, that just one more tantrum or another trip back to their bedroom to answer those blood-curdling screams just might push us over the edge.
Maybe they can sense it, maybe not.
I’m sure there is some science-y answer here. There must be some correlation to how many hours a child has been awake and how cranky they will be, or more likely, how many hours of sleep a mom missed the night before seems to directly relate to how difficult a child she will be dealing with the next day.
But science aside, what’s the deal? Are there things we can do to make bedtime a bit less of a terror. Maybe remove the love-hate relationship moms have with bedtime (totally want them in bed, not at all looking forward to getting them there) and just make it a love relationship.
There are actually several things I’ve found to make bedtime easier, and a few that I’ve learned about from other moms.
For starters, a routine. Normally, I am not a routine kind of mama. Our days are pretty unscheduled and free, but bedtime has a routine, albeit a loose one (just 3 steps). The biggest thing that contributes to an easier bedtime for my kids is getting ready for bed before it’s bedtime. Because we do it early, there’s no fight or struggle to get PJs on or teeth brushed. In fact, the kids hurry to get those things done, because they know they still have an hour or two of playtime before bedtime happens in earnest, so they rush through it all instead of struggling so they can get back to the fun stuff.
Next, be sure you are putting them down at the time that works best for them. Keeping kids up to late can make them cranky and increase difficulites in getting them to go to sleep. Work with them to find a schedule that works best for the kiddo. For us it’s 7pm bedtime and even 6:30 if it’s been a busy day and they are extra tired. They wake up at 7am even if they go to bed at 9pm, but at their young ages, they really need a solid 12 hours of sleep, so we bump bedtime back to make it happen for them! Figure out the amount of time your child needs to sleep and plan accordingly so they won’t be stuck fighting sleep each night.
If the littles still struggle getting to sleep, it could be solved with the simplest thing… laying with them! I know, it’s the end of the day, we all just want bedtime routine to be over so we can breathe for a minute. Bask in a few precious moments of silence before we fall into our own beds. But how many times will they ask? Maybe a few years, but the day will come that they stop asking, they stop needing and wanting it, so there’s no harm in giving them those moments now. Helping them settle and drift off to sleep, even if it’s just five minutes.
Another sleep issue always seems to be waking up multiple times a night. I have to admit, when I read this trick on my friend’s blog I was skeptical. But I tried it on my 2 year old (who was waking up 2-3 times a night) and it WORKED! Definitely worth trying.
Do you have your own tricks and methods that make bedtime easier at your house? Tell us about them in the comments!
If you are looking for more sleep tips check out this amazing resource. It’s one I wish I had had when my littles were younger. (affiliate)
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