Bath-Time, Warm Milk and Digestives There is plenty of evidence available which proves that drinking warm milk before bed helps to get both children and adults off to sleep. Rather than offering toddlers a hot chocolate, coke or any other sugary drink, a simple glass of milk will be much better, as this does not contain any caffeine. As a bedtime snack, instead of a chocolate cookie, which will likely have the undesired effect of a sugar rush, try a plain digestive biscuit. Another alternative is to offer a small piece of fruit, such as apple slices or perhaps some grapes.
Making a bath part of the bedtime routine, is likely to prove very helpful, as it relaxes the child's muscles and gets him ready to wind down for going to sleep. Remember to only use baby oil or a form of baby-sensitive bath oil, as this will be unlikely to irritate the skin.
Toddler Bedtime Routine – Short Car Ride, Warm Sheets and Bedtime Story
As most parents will know, it is amazing how a short car ride can help get toddlers to relax and feel sleepy. Especially as the daylight begins to fade, being able to see the darkness, reminds the child that it is nearly bedtime again.
In Baby & Toddler Sleep Solutions for Dummies, Arthur Lavin and Susan Glaser (John Wiley & Sons, 2007) recommend on cold nights, placing a warm towel over the sheet before the child is due to get all tucked-in. They also recommend putting a child's blanket in the tumble dryer for a couple of minutes before bedtime, or even wrapping a teddy or favourite cuddly toy in a pillow case before putting it in the dryer.
The ideal end to a toddler's bedtime routine is having a story either made up or read from a chosen book. This is a great time to bond and will also provide much benefit in terms of promoting a child's development of language and reading skills.
As highlighted above, a toddler's bedtime routine, may include a milky drink, relaxing bath-time, short car ride, warm sheets (on cold nights) and a bedtime story. The key is to establish such a routine, as early on as possible, which helps children to feel safe and secure!
Making a bath part of the bedtime routine, is likely to prove very helpful, as it relaxes the child's muscles and gets him ready to wind down for going to sleep. Remember to only use baby oil or a form of baby-sensitive bath oil, as this will be unlikely to irritate the skin.
Toddler Bedtime Routine – Short Car Ride, Warm Sheets and Bedtime Story
As most parents will know, it is amazing how a short car ride can help get toddlers to relax and feel sleepy. Especially as the daylight begins to fade, being able to see the darkness, reminds the child that it is nearly bedtime again.
In Baby & Toddler Sleep Solutions for Dummies, Arthur Lavin and Susan Glaser (John Wiley & Sons, 2007) recommend on cold nights, placing a warm towel over the sheet before the child is due to get all tucked-in. They also recommend putting a child's blanket in the tumble dryer for a couple of minutes before bedtime, or even wrapping a teddy or favourite cuddly toy in a pillow case before putting it in the dryer.
The ideal end to a toddler's bedtime routine is having a story either made up or read from a chosen book. This is a great time to bond and will also provide much benefit in terms of promoting a child's development of language and reading skills.
As highlighted above, a toddler's bedtime routine, may include a milky drink, relaxing bath-time, short car ride, warm sheets (on cold nights) and a bedtime story. The key is to establish such a routine, as early on as possible, which helps children to feel safe and secure!
No comments:
Post a Comment