Make Sleep Your Child’s Routine
Getting into a consistent routine can be challenging and often takes longer than expected to achieve. Forming a consistent schedule can prove just as tricky regarding your child’s bedtime routine.
Like any other habitual practice, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine teaches your child self-care and can positively impact their development, behavioral regulation, and overall wellbeing. As we jump into the school year this August, there’s no better time to adjust your child’s sleep schedule with a stable bedtime routine.
Make Sleep Your Routine
Humans are creatures of habit. According to Harvard Business Review, around half of our daily actions are driven by repetition. For children to get the sleep they need, staying consistent with a structured bedtime routine is essential.
Implementing a healthy nighttime routine for your child limits the stress and anxiety they may be experiencing that is keeping them up at night. Anxious thoughts left untreated can lead to more severe problems such as insomnia, a common sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall and/or stay asleep.
Healthy Habits to Form a Bedtime Routine
Bedtime routines can help your child produce a relaxing and calming environment, allowing them to fall asleep peacefully. Here are several tips that we suggest you and your child practice to start sleeping better, faster.
Decide on a Set Bedtime
Put Away Electronic Devices
Take a Warm Bath/Shower
Eat a Light Snack
Listen to Relaxing Music
Read a Book
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Not all bedtime routines are the same for every child; it might take trial and error to find the best routine for you and your family.
Not an Overnight Fix
Establishing a routine is a lengthy process. Forming a healthy habit can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. Stay patient with your child while they look to get into the bedtime routine that fits them best.
Sometimes, the remedy for a child’s sleep or health issues requires more than implementing a consistent bedtime routine. At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients as young as two years old get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.