Setting the Sleep Mode for Children - Continued

A night light that turns on, or that your child ‘turns on’ when they are getting into bed can help many fall asleep with that little extra added protection of a light. A night-light also will lead the way in case they have to get up in the middle of the night and get to the bathroom.

When it is time for the children to get to bed, they should not be able to hear your television or radio playing. If you are going to be awake after the child goes to bed, try to keep the noise down a little bit so that your child is not going to be preoccupied with listening to what you are watching on television.

If you have a hard time getting your child to sleep, be sure to keep them in their own beds. It might ‘feel’ good for your child to crawl in bed with you when they are young, but this can be dangerous if you would roll over on them, and it prolongs their ability to sleep in their own bed.  Tell your child that you will leave their light on, or give them a special bear if they don’t want to sleep in their own bed. You can lay down with your child in their bed and then get up and leave when they get to sleep, but at least they are sleeping in their own bed.

The key to getting your children into sleeping habits is to make schedules and have your children stick to them. The more you vary from your schedule, the grumpier the kids can be in the morning, and the more difficult it can be to ‘get them out of bed’ in the morning.