These Strategies Helps Me Put My Kid To Bed Easily

Ma, I don't know how to sleep. Please help me"

It's easy to tell kids to be in the bed by 9 pm and go to sleep but it can be very difficult for kids if they do not how to sleep by themselves.

Getting angry at kids is not fair. 

I knew that I had to do something about it and then I started a wrap-up routine with my kid. These steps helped me find a way to help my kid sleep well. 

Self-care routine before bed - Just like we adults have a skincare routine, kids too need to follow a simple self-care routine before they go to bed. This will help them feel relaxed and sleepy.

Writing their reflection of the day - getting kids to write down or say what they did during the day helps them forget about their worries and feel good about themselves. Read more here 

Setting up the room in order for the next day - This includes making sure that their workstation is in order and the room looks fresh and clean for the next day. 

A bath depending where you live- A bath in the evening helps wash the tiredness away and the warmth of the water makes the body feel relaxed.

Brushing teeth- This is an important step in the self-care routine as it helps kids get rid of all the sugary drinks or snacks they might have had during the day.

A bedtime story - Reading a bedtime story is a great way to bond with your child and also helps them wind down before sleep or young kids can read a book they like on their own.

Comfortable clothes - Make sure your child is wearing comfortable clothes to bed so that they do not feel restless during the night.

Going to bed at the same time every day -  Having a set bedtime helps establish a sleep routine and makes it easier for kids to fall asleep.

When we started this it wasn't easy for us, but I decided to log off my system latest by 8 pm so my kid could see me getting ready for bed.

Keeping the phone away- Keep all distractions away including the phone. It's difficult but it has to be done.

It is tempting to lie down on the bed and scroll for hours before we fall back to sleep but this makes it harder to fall asleep.

Dim the lights - an hour before bedtime, dim the lights in the house so that the body can start producing melatonin, which makes us sleepy.

Create an atmosphere of love and security - Before tucking them in, give your child a tight hug and tell them how much you love them. This will create an atmosphere of security and they will feel loved

Listen to any stories they would like to share or any ideas they want to talk about.

Practice mindfulness together- You can practice some simple mindfulness exercises together like taking deep breaths or visualizing a calm place. This will help kids feel relaxed and sleepy.

Say a prayer or chant a mantra to calm the mind- This is optional but if you are religious then this can be a great way to calm the mind and body before sleep.

Sort out any issues that you had with your kid during the day- This is the time to talk about any issues that you had with your kid during the day. This will help clear the air and they can go to bed with a clear mind.

Adi likes to talk about his friends and things that happened during the day so I try and listen to him as much as possible.

Bedtime is a great time to bond with your kids and also help them wind down before sleep.

End with a positive note- Thank your kid for being cooperative and tell them how proud you are of them. This will boost their confidence and they will feel good about themselves.

Remember we need to model the right behavior for our kids to follow. So, start following a good sleep routine yourself and see the difference it makes to your child's sleep.

If you sleep only after scrolling through your phone then how will you tell your kid to not do the same?

Remember to discuss it with kids if this has not been working, and let them know why we are following this routine and what is the rationale behind it.

It's not just about making kids follow a routine but also teaching them how to sleep well so that they can do it on their own when they grow up.

Discuss with them what we could do to stick to this routine, when they are involved they take the responsibility and ownership to follow the routine.

I always talk to Adi and ask him why we are unable to stick to our routine, and he has some great ideas which we try to implement.

At the same time, it might be possible that none of this will work out for you. In that case, I would suggest trying out different things and seeing what works for your kid. The most important thing is to be patient and keep trying until you find something that helps your child sleep better."

If you are living in a big family following a routine can be difficult but let people know that your kid sleeps at this time so they can be more considerate.

And there are days kids are too tired to follow a routine, please forgive yourself on those days. We are all doing our best.

In the end, it is important to have patience and consistency with the routine. It might take some time for kids to get used to it but once they do, they will start sleeping better.