How Significant Is Bedtime Routine?

When it comes to kids, having a routine is especially important. Devoting in the health and well-being of children is essential for promoting positive outcomes throughout the lifespan—from the development of long-term health practices to literacy and school readiness to psychological well-being. Bedtime declares that the day is over. It is actually the desired relaxed calm ending to the day. Most bedtime routines include certain tasks like having a bath and brushing teeth, as well as quiet, enjoyable activities like reading a book or listening to a story. It is a daily opportunity to build and nurture your relationship with your child. This is a time to snuggle & discuss about various important things that child may be thinking about.

We suggest certain things that should be done by parents as part of a good bedtime routine-

• Begin a good bedtime routine when the baby is young.
• The bedtime routine should be age-appropriate and should change over time.
• Do keep your child’s bedtime routine fairly short, about 10 to 15 minutes, or a little longer.
• A security object like a stuffed animal or blanket should be kept as a part of the bedtime routine.
• The bedtime should be fairly consistent from day to day, starting at the same time and going in the same order.
• Offer some choices in your bedtime routine like which pajamas to wear and which books to read, etc.
• We must understand that a little crying can be okay as they settle down for sleep or when they wake up in the middle of the night
• Use a night light.
• We must include dental hygiene in the bedtime routine.
• Remind kids to use the bathroom one last time before going to bed.

There are some ways and things that parents should avoid-

• Be careful as your child might drag out the bedtime routine with repeated calls for drinks, snacks, or to use the bathroom. Try to stick to your original routine.
• Stimulating activities, such as playing video games, watching TV, or talking on the phone must be avoided just before your bedtime routine.
• Avoid caffeine infused items (coffee-flavored ice cream and chocolate) before bed.
• Parents must also try to avoid poor sleep associations like rubbing children back until he/she falls asleep, playing or keeping the TV on/music etc.
• Remember that children will never outgrow poor sleep habits. The sooner parents try to fix this, the better.

Repetition and proper structure help children feel safe. As parents it will help you in building your children’s confidence. For young children it is very comforting and adds a significant measure of emotional strength not only to the child but to the family as well. There is no outright way to set up a bedtime routine. As long as the child falls asleep easily and sleeps all night, the bedtime routine is likely to be working well.