In order for a child to receive healthy development there are many factors to take into consideration. One of these factors is how a child sleeps and the development into a healthy bedtime routine that meets the needs of your child. A bedtime routine is quite simple it consists of all the things you do with your child right before bedtime. This can consist of many different things such as taking a bath or reading them a story.
The purpose in developing a bedtime routine is so that your child develops the ability to fall asleep by themselves. This is a great strategy and rewarding once successful because it allows your child the confidence and ability to feel safe and at peace during rest time. By using simple strategies to help assist your child in developing a bedtime routine it can help ease your child in sleeping throughout the night.
Setting up a bedtime routine does not have a only one right way, because every child is different and requires different things for comfort. But there are some things you can do and include into a bedtime routine that can assist in child sleep. Things like starting early and keeping it short, making sure its age appropriate, providing a secure object like a teddy bear at a young age. Ensure you are consistent, offering choices, incorporate things like a night light, dental hygiene, and encouraging them to use the bathroom before bed. These are simple things you can do as a parent that can be incorporated into a bedtime routine, to help your children sleep through the night. There are also things to avoid when forming bedtime routines; these are things like not dragging the routine out, avoiding stimulating activities, and avoiding caffeine.
Overall, child sleep is an important part of a child’s growth and development, and by leaving room for flexibility as well as incorporating things that help in making your child feel safe like their favorite teddy bear or a night light. This allows them to feel safe and secure. Another important thing to remember is sometimes children just need some snuggling time; by allowing a allocated time for this it produces a secure attachment in both a child and parent. It is important to remember that every child is different and that you need to be flexible for both your needs and your child’s.