Create A Happy Bedtime For Your Child

by Renee H. Loud

Ingredients for a happy bedtime

Time

Allow fifteen to forty five minutes leading up to lights-out time. This time becomes bedtime.

Consistency

Establish a lights-out time and a bedtime routine that you can stick to. A consistent bedtime will help the child to fall asleep faster and sleep sounder.

Routines

Approach lights-out time with the same routines and rituals everynight so that the child knows what to expect. For example:

• playtime, snack, brush teeth, bath, pajamas, read, tuck-in, prayer
• dinner, bath, brush teeth, pajamas, tuck-in, read, prayer, music box
• dinner, playtime, bath, pajamas, read, etc.
  

Rituals

Find rituals that are fun for you and your child. Remember that these disciplines will . . .

• instill within your child a sense of security
• make bedtime fun and memorable
• foster a sense of anticipation in your child

Affection

Bedtime is the perfect time to reaffirm your child's importance with lots of kisses and hugs.

Benefits of Establishing a Consistent Bedtime Routine

• Reading at bedtime instills a love of reading in children that lasts well beyond the tuck-in years.

• Parental involvement in certain areas of the routine (washing up, picking out clothes, etc.) lessens as children learn responsibility within the context of an established routine.

• Parents enjoy free time in the evening after children are tucked in - without exhausting bedtime disputes.

• Children feel more secure with a nightly routine.

Taking time out from our busy lifestyles to create a time of peace and deliberate routine at bedtime leads to happy nights for children and peaceful evenings for parents.

Bedtime Ritual Ideas

• say goodnight to family members
• say goodnight to pets
• say goodnight to bedroom objects
• say goodnight to the sun or moon or stars
• talk about the child's day
• talk about tomorrow's plans
• choose clothes for next day
• read a book
• bedtime kisses
• play a music box
• prayer

As your child ages, bedtime reading will evolve from baby books to classics.

Bedtime tips

babyworld

parentsplace

Bedtime books

Babycenter