How to Help Your Child Get Better Sleep at Night
Sleep is an essential part of everyone’s health. However, since your child is still growing, sleep is even more of a priority to help them be happy and healthy. If your child is not getting proper sleep at night, there are steps you can take to help improve their sleep.
Develop a Routine
Having a nightly routine can be very beneficial to everyone in the family. Your body works on an internal clock, and by doing the same things each night your body will grow accustomed to falling asleep at the same time. You can have a family night routine or you can help your child create their own routine. As part of a nightly routine, Sleep Foundation says your child should begin doing calming activities. Examples include reading a book, listening to relaxing music, or talking about their day. Electronics should be put away at least an hour before bed because the blue light stimulates the brain. You can also help ease them into sleep by creating a cold, dark, and quiet sleep environment.
Identify the Source of the Issue
As you help your child get better sleep, you should first establish what the problem is. Why aren’t they getting the sleep that they need? There are many reasons why they could be struggling. Sometimes it can be due to stress or worry. Talking about their feelings can help you see what might be keeping them up at night. In younger kids, it could also be a fear of the dark or nightmares. Finding ways to ease or eradicate these fears is helpful. According to Maccaro Pediatric Dentistry, teeth grinding due to stress or misalignment can lead to issues with sleep. It might be helpful to get your child a night mouthguard or even some braces to address these problems.
Prepare During the Day
Your daytime activities can have a major impact on your sleep. To help your child get better sleep at night, you need to be thinking about what they do during the day and in the hours leading up to sleep. Nationwide Children’s says one of the best ways to get better sleep at night is to get plenty of exercise during the day. Give your child plenty of time to play and run around. The more tired they get during the day, the better they will sleep at night. You can also make sure they get plenty of nutrition throughout the day. If they are still hungry at night, give them a small snack. You should also avoid giving them any caffeine 6-8 hours before bed and avoid the TV and other electronics before bed.
Your child’s sleep is very important. You want to make sure they are getting enough sleep each night and getting high quality sleep. There is a lot you can do to help them, so explore all your options until you find what works for you and your child.
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