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Sleep is one of the most powerful restorative processes that our body can benefit from. Therefore, as a parent, you should instill the importance of getting sleep in your children from a young age. However, if you are a parent, then you will likely already be aware of the problems that come with trying to encourage your little ones to get the sleep they need.
From refusing to go to sleep at bedtime to getting up early in the morning, teaching your kids healthy sleeping habits can sometimes be a challenge. So, we have put together some of our top tips on how you can help your kids embrace good sleep habits to help them get the rest they need.
Practice Healthy Sleep Habits Yourself
Your kids learn their habits and behaviors from you. So, one of the best ways to help them to embrace healthy sleep habits is by practicing them yourself. If you are someone who stays up late and struggles to get out of bed in the morning, then this will likely rub off on your little ones, and they will assume that this is normal.
Another way that you can practice healthy sleep habits and set a good example for your children is by limiting your screen time on the run-up to bedtime. While it can be tempting to get into bed at night and scroll through your social media feeds, if your children see you doing this then they will want to do it themselves. So have a screen curfew for the whole family and watch all of your sleep habits improve.
Make Sure They Have a High-Quality Mattress
While your sleep habits and behaviors have a huge impact on how well you sleep at night, so does the quality of your bed and mattress. Both you and your children will struggle to get a good night’s sleep if your mattress is not comfortable and of a high-quality. Therefore, we recommend that you invest in a new mattress for your kids and stress to them the importance of being comfortable throughout the night in order to get the rest they need.
You might not know where to start when it comes to finding the right mattress for your kids, but you should try one with memory foam to provide them with the comfort that will help them sleep better.
Communicate Expectations
You need to make it clear to your kids about what is expected of them when it comes to healthy sleep habits so that they can follow your instructions. You should establish a nighttime routine and let your children know that they need to start winding down ready for bed in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Remember, there is nothing wrong with rewarding your children for good behavior so if you give them clear instructions and expectations regarding their sleep habits, be sure to reward them afterward. But if you do offer an incentive, make sure you only give it when they have earned it and do not give in to crying or tantrums.
Stay Cool
There is no denying that it can be difficult to help your kids embrace healthy sleep habits, and you may find yourself getting increasingly frustrated. However, it is important that you keep your cool and do not get angry if your child appears in your bed in the middle of the night. You need to remember that shouting at them and overreacting will only create a bigger issue, so stay positive and keep your word.
We hope that these tips and suggestions can help you to introduce healthy sleep habits for the whole family.