HELP! My Child Won’t Go To Bed

Once kids hit a certain age and they can begin to dispute their bedtime, your household may become a battleground every evening when it’s time for your child to hit the sack. You want your child to get a good night’s sleep, but kids want to test the boundaries and are curious to stay up late. What’s a parent to do? Here are some tips to convince your child to get to bed when you say it’s time to do so. Before you know it, your child will be off to dreamland without a fight.

Excite Them for Something Special Come Morning

If your child is reluctant to go to sleep, remind him that the sooner he drifts off into a slumber, the sooner he’ll wake up for the start of a brand new day. Make that anticipation even more exciting with something to look forward to come morning. This could be a bowl of his favorite cereal, a chance to play with a new toy before school or daycare, time with you to walk or feed the pets or water the plants, etc. He will be anxious to go to bed knowing that by morning he will be able to get his special surprise. Make it something new each time if you can, but nothing too extravagant – basically something you’d do anyhow – but he will find it to be wonderfully rewarding.

Read a Bedtime Book

There’s nothing like that special bonding time with your child you get by reading him a nighttime book. The sound of your soothing voice and the tales of the book’s characters will have your child relaxed and simmered down after a hectic day. Be sure he’s lying down and all ready for bed before story time because he very well may fall asleep as you are reading (bonus!). He will look forward to bedtime reading if you select some books he’s been looking forward to. Plus, reading to your child is excellent for his brain development and creativity.

Have a Small Snack

A small snack before bedtime can be useful in getting your child to fall asleep. He will appreciate the treat and it may also tire him a bit. Try some warm milk and a few graham crackers, a handful of cereal, ½ a banana, or some low-fat yogurt. Nothing too filling or energizing, but enough to satisfy a grumbly belly before sleep time. If you do plan to serve a bedtime snack, cut back on after-dinner dessert so your child doesn’t overeat.

How do you get your kids to agree to their bedtime? We’d love to share your successful tips with the AMC community. For more information like this, please visit All My Children.

By: Melissa A. Kay