The Sleep Struggle: Tips to Help Your Child Sleep

Oh, the the bedtime battles! "Just one more hug!" "I'm thirsty." "Lay with meeeeeee!" It's like negotiating with tiny, adorable dictators who have no concept of why sleep is important. To them, it's just a boring time-out from all the fun stuff they could be doing, like building pillow forts or playing with legos.

But don't worry, my fellow sleep-deprived parents! I'm here with my bedtime tips to make bedtime a happy and stress-free experience for everyone involved. No more tears, no more tantrums, just peaceful nights and happy mornings.

Are you ready, parents? Let's do this!

Here's how to tackle those pesky bedtime battles:

1. Make sure you've actually connected with your little one. If they're not getting enough attention, they'll fight for it, even if it means staying up late. So, give them a some one-on-one time and bond for a bit before moving on.
   
   
2. Keep it light and fun. Stress hormones are the enemy of sleep, so try to stay relaxed and silly instead of getting all worked up.
   
   
3. Use a comfort item to help them transition to bed. Get a little soft Teddy and have it say "night night" to everyone before settling in with your child. You can rub their back or sing them a lullaby, but try to avoid picking them up until they're fully asleep.
   
   
4. Gradually nudge them towards independence. If your child is used to falling asleep in your bed, try sleeping on a sleeping bag beside their bed first, then by the door, and so on until they're fully in their own space.
   
   
5. Be ready to negotiate with preschoolers. As they get older, they'll want more control over their routine, and their imaginations and fears will start to run wild. Give them some quiet time before bed, and make sure to discuss the routine and agree on any rules beforehand. And if they're scared, leave a light on or provide a night light to help calm them down.  Another tip is trying a sleep mask, children love these and it helps wandering eyes.
   
   

When it comes to bedtime battles, you've got options. Will you give in and let your little one stay up all night? Or will you use these tips to help them get the rest they need? The choice is yours!

Powerful bedtime choices:  Lock in - Negotiate - Give Up

Lock in:  First, you gotta state the rules, like "brush your teeth, then books." Then give them verbal cues like "crawl under your covers" or "say goodnight to Dad." And if they still protest, just keep repeating yourself until they give in. Stick to your guns, stay cool, and you'll come out on top!

Negotiate:  If you wanna make a deal, offer 'em a choice. "Do you wanna wear the green jammies or the blue ones?" "Do you want two or three kisses?" You get the idea.

Give In:  Sometimes, you gotta know when to wave the white flag. When my daughter begged to sleep in my bed, I occasionally decided to give in. She clearly needed the connection and bonding time, and we both got the rest we really needed. Just make sure it's the right choice for you and your busy schedule as it will throw off the routine moving forward.

Whether you lock in, negotiate, or give in, the end goal is less bedtime battles.  Getting more restful nights so we can be bright and take on tomorrow!

Finally, a few final keys to help reducing bedtime battles:

• Model calm and quiet
  
• Observe and log your child’s patterns
  
• Monitor stress and fatigue cues
• Establish a calming bedtime routine
• Limit screen time to <60 minutes a day
• Avoid high activity and screen time in the evening
• Plan exercise for the child every day
• Teach the child about importance of sleep and all the great benefits of getting more sleep
• Model healthy sleep
• Keep regular naptime and bedtime
• Spend time connecting at other times of day

As the day comes to a close, let's not forget that our little ones crave connection. Those pesky bedtime battles might just be a sign that they're seeking our attention and affection. So, before we dive headfirst into battle mode, take a quick moment to ask yourself, "Have I hugged my kiddo today?" A quick 1-2 minute cuddle sesh and a sprinkle of empathy can work wonders. And hey, before you know it, your little one will be snoozing like a champ and you'll be wondering where the time went! So, let's cherish these moments and keep on lovin' those kiddos!