If you have kids that you have to help put to bed each night, you know how frustrating and difficult this process can be. But owing to the fact that bedtime is supposed to be a precursor to getting your kids settled down and ready for bed, when the evening is full of fights and stress, it isn’t very conducive to actually helping kids get to sleep and fall asleep quickly. Luckily, there are things that you can do to help get everyone through this transition a little bit easier.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for getting through kids’ bedtime routines more peacefully.
Try Eating Closer To Bedtime
For many parents, one thing that can start the bedtime routine off on an annoying note is if, as soon as you tell your kids that it’s time to start getting ready for bed, they say that they’re hungry. Especially if you have picky eaters or kids who don’t like to sit still for dinner, it can be hard to hear them want more food after they chose not to really eat anything during a meal.
Something you can try to help avoid this issue right before bed is to eat closer to their bedtime. This way, their bellies will be full when it’s time to start their bedtime routine. Additionally, you could also have a boring but nutritious snack ready to quickly give them right before you want to start bedtime to help them feel more full.
Create A Relaxing Environment
If you want bedtime to be something that helps your kids actually calm down and start feeling ready to fall asleep, you need to create a relaxing environment. This can be accomplished in all kinds of ways.
Turning down the lights around the house can help signal kids that it’s time to calm their bodies and minds before bed. Putting on some soft music can also help them to relax. And if you do baths before bed, the warm water and scents from their soaps and washes can also help them to feel more relaxed and ready to settle into sleep.
Stick To A Consistent Routine
Kids thrive on routine, and this is no different when it comes to bedtime. When you keep a consistent bedtime routine with your kids, whether it’s three steps or thirteen steps, they will tend not to fight so much because they’ll recognize what’s coming next and instinctively feel calmed by the predictability. So if you can come up with a bedtime routine that works for you and your family, try your best to stick to it as consistently as possible to help smooth out some of the stresses that might normally come from getting kids in bed.
If you want to have a more peaceful bedtime routine with your kids, consider implementing some of the tips mentioned above.
