Bedtime Routines
Are you finding your evening bedtime routine with your toddler is getting longer and longer, more drawn out, and quite honestly, more exhausting? We get it - we’ve been there and done the toddler bedtime routine dance as well. And it can be exhausting sometimes.
But here are some tips we wish we knew back then to help keep this ritual in check, and on schedule.
Set the expectation earlier in the day, or even the night before, that only so many books will be read. This could look like “ I know you’re excited to read more books. We can read these two tomorrow night” and then remind them the next day throughout the day that said two books will be on docket for bedtime reading.
Keep the lights in the house dim for at least an hour before your kids are heading to bed. Today’s houses are full of LED lights (including those pot lights), which can overstimulate their brains, thus making it harder for them to settle down.
Consider offering mango for dessert at dinner. Mango is known to have calming effects on the body’s nervous system and can stimulate natural melatonin production.
And finally, if your child has separation anxiety at bed time, give him or her one of mom (or dad’s) worn tshirt to cuddle up to in bed. The natural scent of the worn tshirt will feel like home and comfort to them, thus helping them relax and settle into a long night’s sleep.
Maybe their body’s are not tired enough - consider enrolling them in a new class, or bringing them for drop in play. These winter months kids are indoors more, and simply don’t expel as much energy as they do during the summer months. This is where Kidnasium’s drop in play hours can help, offered at both of our locations.
And when all else fails … maybe you just need to give in and offer your child that extra attention that evening. Maybe he or she simply missed you and is craving your attention.