Having sleep problems is not just an adult thing, children also have problems falling asleep. In general, when little ones have sleep problems, they tend to ‘drag’ their parents with them often causing problems in the family, because when a father or mother does not sleep well, they can feel a little irritated during the day.
Bedtime can become a battle when kids don’t see the need to go to bed. Below you can find some tips for when children do not want to sleep without creating any kind of conflict at home.
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What to do when my child does not want to sleep
Set a time to go to bed
Preschoolers need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night, but there is a great deal of variability in children’s sleep needs and patterns. Most kids have patterns that don’t change much no matter what you do. In this sense, if a child is an early riser, they will get up early whenever you like it more or you like it less. It is necessary that you know how many hours of sleep your child needs to wake up refreshed and that you can establish a time of go to sleep appropriately.
Be flexible on weekends and holidays
If you know how much sleep your child needs and when they need to go to bed, you need all days have a sleep routine. It doesn’t matter if you allow your child to go to bed a little later on weekends and holidays, but if you make the sleep time too uncontrolled, it could affect your child too much and make it more difficult for them to sleep adequately. This flexibility should be within clear limits.
You can’t miss routines
Routines are very important for babies and children. Doing specific things before going to bed so that they become routine is necessary (such as going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, or reading a story). That way your kids will know what comes next. Knowing what comes next is comforting and relaxing for children, so establishing sleep routines will create the perfect atmosphere for rest. Before long, your child’s body will begin to fall asleep at the beginning of their routine.
Reduce stress
One hormone that plays an important role in sleep is cortisol, which is also known as the ‘stress hormone’. When cortisol levels are high, your child’s body will not be able to go to sleep and rest. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the hours before going to bed quiet, with dim lights and a calm environment to avoid excessive amounts of cortisol in your child’s body /a.
Create an environment that induces sleep
While a stuffed animal can make it easier for your child to go to sleep, too many toys can make it more difficult. Soft sheets, room-darkening curtains, and quiet can also help your child tell the difference between day and night and make it easier for them to fall asleep.
A suitable temperature
Children’s sleep cycle not only depends on the amount of light or the lack of it, it is also sensitive to temperature. Melatonin levels help regulate the drop in internal body temperature necessary for sleep, so you can help regulate your child’s external temperature to improve her rest. Do not cover your child too much or make the room temperature too high. Room temperature should be comfortable to promote deep sleep.