It's August, and I can tell you that I'm not ready for the next month to come...
I absolutely LOVE summer and never want it to end, but the next seasons 'ads' have started and well, instead of completely ignoring it, I've decided to prepare for it.
So depending on what September brings for you, chances are there are some elements of 'back to school' for your family.
If you've had a lot of fun this summer and need to get some order back with regards to bedtime, then keep reading!
1) Start now!
Don't delay and start tonight, put your kids to bed 10 minutes earlier than what you did last night.
Every three or so days, put them to bed 10 minutes earlier to reach the desired bedtime.
What's an ideal bedtime for your child?
6:30-7:30 pm is ideal, and if you have a school-aged child, the latest I'd suggest is 8 pm.
School aged children on average need 10+ hours of sleep and many don't get that. With screen time in the evenings, it's easy for things to get out of hand.
Set a limit on screen time in the evening so that your child can have enough time to unwind, and have a good sleep.
2) Morning wake-up time
If your child needs to be up by a specific time for either school or daycare, then slowly wake them up by 10-15 minutes earlier until you reach the desired awake time.
If you have a toddler (2 years +), start using a toddler clock to help them understand when it's time to wake up.
3) Tighten up the bedtime routine
Is bedtime taking more than 30 minutes? Is the routine you used to do long gone?
Start by dusting off your old routine and start doing it again!
Here's a sample of a great little bedtime routine:
Bath, milk (bottle or breast if applicable), PJs, books (max 3!), hugs and to bed awake!
Pro-tip: Close the curtains, turn off the tv, and lower the lights in your home starting at 6/6:30 pm to help your little one's body feel ready for sleep.
Little reminder: Things like school, daycare, activities, etc. are very tiring for children. It will take a while for your child to adjust to the increase in activity.
Take it easy with the extra-curriculars and filling up your evenings to let your child have some chill time in the evenings.
Going back to *you know what* can be fun and exciting, but it often means changing our our routines and getting back into the swing of things.
Start by slowly moving your child's bedtime earlier by small increments every few days so that by the time fall rolls around, they are well rested and have a reasonable bedtime.
If your child has a tendency to sleep in, also start waking them up earlier by 10 minutes every few days to help their bodies adjust to the earlier schedule.
Making changes to ones sleep takes time, so take advantage of these couple of weeks to prepare.
Lastly, if your bedtime routine has gotten out of hand, or has simply disappeared, now is a good time to dust it off!
Remember, a good bedtime routine doesn't take more than 30 minutes! It helps to keep the chaos under control and helps you maintain some sanity as well:)
If your baby or child isn't sleeping well and you feel like it's 'time' to get a handle on it, let's connect!
Click below to book a free 15-minute sleep evaluation! I'd love to help!
Chat soon,
Melody Patton
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