If you have a toddler, then chances are you have had difficulty convincing him or her to go to bed. The most important thing to remember is that in order to go to bed easily, children need a pre-established and predictable routine. If your child is wound up because of vigorous play, most likely you'll never convince her to go to bed. Also, ordering her to do so will be futile, so if you do not have a nighttime routine, consider these easy tips to make your toddler's bedtime much easier.
Every night, you should have a wind-down routine. A good wind-down routine consists of a nighttime bath, brushing teeth, and a bedtime story. These activities serve to calm your child down, and provide time for you to enjoy each other. Some parents incorporate into the bedtime routine a foot massage right after the bath. That tends to soothe the child, relax her and make the transition to bedtime easier.
Fear of the dark and nightmares are common for toddlers, so place a night light in your toddler's room. Also, avoid watching television before bedtime--it is associated with sleep disturbances. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years of age watch no television at all, and those over the age of 2 watch no more than 1-2 hours of television daily. For older children, the recommended 1-2 hours of "television time" includes video games and computer time.
If your child takes any medications, they might interfere with sleep. If you have concerns about your toddler's persistent sleep problems, talk to you health care provider.
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