How to Reestablish Your Child's Bedtime Routine

Parents of young children often hit a pivotal point of parenting frustration when their children have problems accepting a bedtime curfew. There are common tales that can be shared about temper tantrums and defiant behaviors which have seeped into what should be a peaceful and calm time spent between parents and children. Somewhere along the line you, the parent, have lost control of bedtime hour and need to refocus your energy on taking the control back from your children, while creating a consistent routine to get bedtime back on track.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Choose a proper and appropriate time for your children to go to bed. Remember, a child’s body and mind need adequate rest, which helps to encourage healthy growth and development.
2. Create a pre-bedtime plan of action by making a chart that outlines a clear schedule of activities that can prepare your children for winding down, relaxing and then getting off to bed.
3. Focus the pre-bedtime activities around the 2 1/2 hour period before the set time for bed. During this time you can engage in quality time activities with your child. These activities can include evening walks or bicycle rides, crafts, sing-a-longs, board games, and snuggle time while watching a family-oriented program.
4. Have your children help make an actual chart that organizes the pre-bedtime schedule for the week. It will draw them in to the process in a positive way, which can lead to an easier time implementing the new routine. You can also use that time to discuss the new routine and positively promote it with your children, helping them to understand how it will work and that they will be part of planning the quality time you will spend with them.
5. Include an end of day snack time. This should be done early in the 2- hour period prior to actually going to sleep. The snacks should be healthy choices that are not heavy on the stomach, and definitely not choices that will stimulate hyperactivity. Encouraging sweets and unhealthy foods before bedtime can actually be the root of why a child refuses and puts up a fight against going to bed, because they have all that unused food energy.
6. Schedule in bedtime preparation for the last 30 to 45 minutes before the actual curfew. This is the time that your children should wash up, brush teeth, get ready for bed and actually get into their beds. Make sure you encourage toilet use, which will prevent the “I have to use the toilet” excuse that children often use to put off going to bed at a normal and appropriate time. Also, make sure the bedroom is tidied during that time, because clutter will lead to distraction and distraction will lead to them staying up longer.
7. Read a book to them once they are in bed. Have your child pick out stories they enjoy hearing. Reading to them can help their minds wind down and relax.
8. Reassure your love for them, hug them and say goodnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Taking control of the bedtime routine will not result in instant changes, but it is a starting point.
• Be consistent and patient. If you lose your temper and control easily, your child will get the message that they have won and have indeed taken the control away from you. However, stick to the plan and verbally compliment each successful progression you make.
• Quality time is very important to your child. Most children that put up a fight against going to sleep at night are doing so because they are seeking out your attention. They do not care that they are receiving your attention negatively by behaving badly and provoking discipline. But, you can turn that around by implementing a calm and quality amount of time that you spend with them.
• Do not allow your child to watch television once they are in their bed. Television causes stimulation of the brain and if you stimulate the brain at bedtime, you cannot honestly expect your child to go to sleep.
• Bedtime curfew for a young child should be between 8:00 and 9:00 at night. Any later will not allow your child to get an adequate amount of sleep and this can encourage cranky daytime behavior.