WRITTEN BY SALLY HILLS-DAVIS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND KIRSTY BROCKLEHURST, PHYSIOTHERAPIST
How are you sleeping these days?
Sleep impacts us all and if you are being woken by your children many times in the night, it can leave you feeling emotional and fatigued. According to the sleep foundation, good sleep hygiene is all about putting yourself in the best position to sleep well each and every night. Not always easy when you have children waking you up throughout the night.
However, it is important also that our children sleep well. Sleep plays a crucial part in their wellbeing and development. Research shows that amongst other things it has a direct effect on happiness, it can impact alertness, attention, our children’s mood as well as motor skill development.
A night time routine that the child becomes familiar with might include:
Turning off the television or other technology a good while before bed
Bath time
Calming music and soft talking by the parent or care giver
Pyjamas and tooth brushing
Story time with the light down low
Saying goodnight to your child and toy such as a teddy
Lights off
Other things that could help your family sleep are:
Try and make sure your child has some fresh air outside each day
Keeping a regular bedtime
Providing a healthy diet, avoiding caffeine and sugary treats and snacks particularly near bed time
Using blackout curtains
Making the bedroom a no screen zone even in the day
Helping your child to develop good sleep routines is something that could help your child for a lifetime. In addition, if your child know these are the rules of bedtimes early on in life, the arguments may be reduced as they grow up and want to stay up later and later.