8 Easy Steps to a Peaceful Bedtime

By Guest Blogger Michelle Salcedo, M.Ed, Chief Academic Officer, The Sunshine House

As the sun goes down, a war of wills breaks out in children’s bedrooms across the country. Children, anxious not to miss anything, resist getting into bed. Parents, knowing they’ll pay the price in the morning if their kids are overtired, use every trick in the book to ensure a good night’s sleep.

It doesn’t have to be this way! With some consistency and preplanning, bedtimes can be filled with gentle snores of slumber, not the screams and tears of battle.

1. Establish a routine
   Children do better when they know what to expect. The routine can include a bath, putting on PJ’s, brushing teeth, listening to a story, trip to the bathroom, a final kiss, and lights off. You can even post a timeline of the routine next to your child’s bed, and she can move a clothespin to show where you are in the routine.
2. Be consistent
   Set a bedtime and stick to it as consistently as possible. Children get into a routine and their bodies send them cues when it’s time to go to sleep. If that time is missed, they often become overtired and find it difficult to settle down. Consistency also means not giving in if a child insists on something like sleeping in your bed (if that isn’t the routine) or another drink of water. If you give in after 25 minutes of a tantrum, your child will learn that after 25 minutes they’ll get what they want.
3. Give choices
   Sometimes children resist bedtime as a way to exert power. Give your child small choices that don’t impact on the process. For example, “Do you want your red or blue pajamas tonight?” Or, “Which story do you want to read before bed?” No matter which choice your child makes, you are moving toward the ultimate goal of sleep. Be careful not to give choices you aren’t ready to hear the answer to. For example, “Are you ready to go to bed?”
4. Invest time
   The 10 minutes it takes to read a few stories and sit with your child in bed can help him calm down and go to sleep. This is a small investment when you look at the hour-long battle that might ensue if children are rushed or simply put into bed with no routine.
5. Remove distractions
   TVs, radios, and electronics’ screens (tablets, phones, laptops) can send wake messages to your child, and lead them to resist sleep. Make your child’s bedroom a peaceful haven, free of these distractions. A small nightlight (if needed) and soft, gentle music can help your child sleep without stimulating them.
6. Provide buffers
   It can be difficult for children to transition from one activity to another without warning. If you’re going to start the bedtime routine at 7:30, at 7:15 begin to support your child in calming down. Tell your child there are about 15 minutes to bed and give the choice between quiet toys, an episode of their favorite show, stories, or coloring (for example). All of these will help your child begin the calming process.
7. Use timers
   If your child is resistant to sleep, you can set up a timer system. Set a timer for five minutes and tell your child if he stays in bed until the timer rings, you will come in for one more hug. Continue to set the timer for longer and longer so your child learns to stay in bed.
8. Make a book
   In a world that is constantly moving, sometimes a child doesn’t know what it means to calm down and sleep. Provide her a guide by making a book. On each page, write a step of your bedtime routine. You can also create pages that tell what it means to fall asleep. For example, “We lie real still and close our eyes. In our minds we think happy thoughts. We breathe slowly and deeply to help our bodies calm down.” On the final page, show a picture of your child asleep. Your child can draw the pictures for the story.

The most important thing to remember is this is not forever. Soon the day will come when the only thing your teen seems interested in is sleeping. So, keep calm, keep the faith, and power on!

About The Sunshine House Learning Academy
At The Sunshine House, your child will build a solid social and educational foundation for success in school and in life. Our programs focus on school readiness, social and emotional development, literacy, problem solving, and what every child needs – love and care! Learn more by visiting www.sunshinehouse.com.

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Ms. Salcedo has been in early education for more than 30 years. She has worked as a teacher, director, family educator, curriculum coordinator, and teacher trainer. She has traveled the country as a trainer and key note speaker, and is the author of the upcoming book Uncovering the Roots of Challenging Behavior: Create Responsive Environments Where Young Children Thrive. She has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology with an emphasis in Family Life Education.

~ Sponsored by The Sunshine House

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