How to get a consistent bedtime routine for your kids

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All children need a consistent nightly bedtime routine. It assures a good amount of rest and it gives you time for yourself so that your not running around like a chicken with its head cut off by the end of the day.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

patience
a firm hand
consistancy

Step1

1. Limit the amount of time your child/children watches TV. Children need to burn energy during the day otherwise by the end of the day you wont be able to settle the kids down. Make sure they do activities during the day and keep them busy.

Step2

2. Wake up your child/children every morning at the same time. They need a consistent schedule in the morning just as they do at night. If you let them sleep in all morning it will be harder to get them to sleep at night.

Step3

3. The last hour before bedtime needs to be the same every night. So lets say bedtime is 9:00 pm. At 8:00 have bath time, 8:30 brush teeth, 8:45 get pj's on and settle in bed for a book and lights out at 9:00. Stay consistent with that last hour every night and it will teach them routine.

Step4

4. Make sure right before they lay down that they have everything taken care of such as a glass of water, going to the bathroom etc. that way there will be no excuses to get out of bed after they have already gone to bed. My daughter would do that every night just to have an excuse to get out of bed. So I started making sure that all of those things were done so that she couldn't do that anymore. If you are sure that they have had everything they need and they are comfortable and they are still asking don't feel bad simply refuse them for they are just looking for a way to stay up a little later. Eventually they will stop asking because they will realize that it no longer works and bedtime means bedtime.

Step5

5. Praise your children. Children love praise. It makes them feel good knowing that they are making you proud, children (especially small children) aim to please their parents. In doing so you are giving them a reason to do what is asked. So make sure you let them know how special they are and let them know that their good behavior makes you proud.

Tips & Warnings

This will work but you must be consistent every night and eventually they will learn this routine and it will come naturally. Not to mention it will make life alot less hectic and stressful.