Getting kids to go to bed at night isn't always easy. Sleep problems are among the most common issues parents face. If your child stalls, throws temper tantrums or refuses to go to bed, he probably isn't getting enough sleep, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Help your child get the proper amount of rest. Take steps to ensure he--as well as the rest of your family--gets a good night's sleep.
Step 1
Establish a bedtime routine, which is the key to a good night's sleep, according to MayoClinic.com. Start a routine and stick with it--do it in the same order and at the same time each night. For example, give your child a warm bath every night and play a song to put her to sleep. Read your child a couple of bedtime stories and have her say her prayers before tucking her in for the night.
Step 2
Compromise with your child. If he's afraid of being left alone, assure him you aren't going far. Tell him you'll come back if he needs you. Check on him every five minutes after putting him to bed. If you hear him crying, check on him and stay until he stops crying. Tell him goodnight before leaving his room.
Step 3
Dim the lights in your house as evening approaches. In the morning, wake your child up to bright lights. Take her outside, if possible. Use light to signal her brain into the right sleep-wake cycle, recommends the University of Michigan Health System.
Step 4
Leave a light on in your child's room if he's afraid of the dark. Never close his bedroom door. If he's afraid of the dark, or afraid of being alone, this will help ease his fears of going to bed.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't let your child drink caffeinated beverages after 3 p.m. Caffeine is a stimulant that may keep your child awake. If your child has a television in his room, remove it. Don't let him watch TV for more than two hours a day, and never before bedtime.
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