My kids have generally been good sleepers. In fact, I used to tell people “ My kids have always slept through the night… since they were 3 months old! ” Till one day I told someone that, and my husband corrected me and said, “ They don’t sleep through the night, you just didn’t hear them when they woke up! ” I guess I’m a deep sleeper. We had them in a basket in our room until they were three months, which is why I DID wake up when they did, and as soon as they went to their own rooms, I slept straight through their midnight waking. I’m guessing they just started sleeping through the night, cause no one was there to answer their cries. Part of me feels like a bad parent, but part of me is glad they are such good sleepers now.
Kids need sleep. Between ages 5-12 they need 10-11 hours per night. When my kids don’t get enough sleep, they are moody, sensitive, cranky, argumentative etc.
Follow a bedtime routine.
- Wind down by listening to lullaby music.
- Go to sleep at the same time every night. The hours to get the most restful sleep are before midnight. Early bedtime is key.
- Limit caffeine in the afternoon and before bed.
- Do not allow the bedroom to be a place for television.
- If they need abedtime snack, let it be a small amount of complex carbs.
- Keep them active during the day, so they will be wiped out at bedtime.
One thing we just began struggling with is our 10 year old (our night owl). He tends to get anxious and it is effecting his sleep. Some mornings he will wake up and on the verge of tears tell us he didn’t sleep all night. He has songs running through his head and literally can not turn his brain off. We haven’t fully addressed this, because we don’t know how to help him. We suggest writing in a journal the thoughts he’s having in the middle of the night to see if that will get it out of his head. We’ve also suggested relaxation techniques like deep breathing and muscle tensing-relaxing exercises. Any other ideas?
For a discussion about eating before bed, check outthis post.
Kids need sleep. Between ages 5-12 they need 10-11 hours per night. When my kids don’t get enough sleep, they are moody, sensitive, cranky, argumentative etc.
Follow a bedtime routine.
One thing we just began struggling with is our 10 year old (our night owl). He tends to get anxious and it is effecting his sleep. Some mornings he will wake up and on the verge of tears tell us he didn’t sleep all night. He has songs running through his head and literally can not turn his brain off. We haven’t fully addressed this, because we don’t know how to help him. We suggest writing in a journal the thoughts he’s having in the middle of the night to see if that will get it out of his head. We’ve also suggested relaxation techniques like deep breathing and muscle tensing-relaxing exercises. Any other ideas?
For a discussion about eating before bed, check outthis post.