Curing the Bedtime Blues

As much as parents love and adore their children, they often look forward to that quiet time at the end of the day when their little ones are in bed. For kids, getting enough sleep is a vital part of their cognitive, emotional, physical and social well being. In fact, research suggest that childhood injuries are related to insufficient sleep.

So how do you know if your child is getting enough sleep? The National Sleep Foundation has provided the following guidelines:

• Infants 3-11 months need between 14 and 15 hours a day.
• Toddlers ages 1-3 years need between 12 and 14 hours a day.
• Preschoolers ages 3-5 years require between 11 and 13 hours a day.
• Elementary School children in grades 1-5 need between 10 and 11 hours a day.

Why aren't our children getting the sleep they require? For some parents it is simply a matter of not knowing how to convince their little one to stay in their bed. The child's endless demands can result in a prolonged and frustrating bedtime experience. So what's a parent to do?

Bedtime Routines

No one solution will work all of the time for every child, however a consistent bedtime routine seems to be a popular and effective method. Baths, books and brushing teeth are commonly included as part of the bedtime routine. Beginning 45 minutes to an hour before bedtime gives kids enough time to wind down before going to sleep.

Choices Choices

Giving choices helps create kids who willingly head to bed.

Some choices might be:

• Would you like to wear your red or blue pajamas?
• Do you want to use your toilet or the one in my room?
• Do you want to crawl or walk to bed?

Note that all of these choices move the child toward bed.

Other Options

Some parents refer to bedtime as "bedroom" time. These parents put their kids to bed 30 to 45 minutes early, making sure they've already brushed their teeth and used the restroom. Kids have lights near their bed or mounted above their headboards and a stack of books to keep them occupied. Parent's come in when it's time for "lights out", tuck their little ones in and kiss them good night.

Some parents find it helpful to buy a special toddler bed when moving their little ones from a crib to a "big kids bed." The Fire Truck Toddler Cot is perfect for young fire fighters, while the Cottage Toddler Cot will appeal to aspiring gardeners. Beds for toddlers are usually designed to accept a standard crib mattress.

Creating healthy sleep habits may take some work. You might want to begin a bedtime routine, put kids in their beds early for some "bedroom time", give them a special light to read by or purchase a bed that's just their size. It might also include reducing the number of activities kids participate in, eliminating caffeinated beverages and removing electronics from the bedroom. In the end, everyone will sleep better.