Bedtime Boot Camp

Why is bedtime so difficult? It should be the best your best time of day. The kids are going to sleep and you’ll finally have time to yourself. But for many parents and guardians bedtime is time for battle. Crying, whining, temper tantrums and stalling, and one more story, can result in a long drawn-out process.

Here are the tips that can get bedtime under control:

• Establish and keep a regular bedtime

• Remind your kids 15 minutes prior to bedtime so they can mentally prepare and begin the wind-down process

• Eliminate late-night distractions. Turn off the television and video games 30 minutes before bedtime

• Establish a bedtime routine (brush teeth, go to the bathroom, reading books)

For the child or children who are up out of bed 18 times, try these tips:

• Don’t talk to them and don’t yell. Simply return them to bed with a little fan fare as possible.

• For crying children, check on them, reassure them and offer to check on them in a few minutes. By the time you return they will often fall back to sleep.

• If a nightmare is the causes of the disruption try to calm them, tell them they are ok and try to get them back to bed as soon as possible. Avoid letting them jump into bed with you.

If you can’t seem to get your child in a routine of your child truly has difficulty getting or staying asleep, you may want to seek the advice of a medical professional.