blog

There’s a straightforward way to determine if people have children—if they ever say, “I sleep like a baby,” chances are excellent they don’t have one! As adults, we know the importance of recharging after a hard day, but unfortunately, children don’t always keep the same agenda we do. Techniques and technology are continually being developed to maximize the results of our rest and give us measurable strategies, but when it comes to our kids, nothing works all the time.  So, what is it about sleep that can be such a challenge for the kiddos?

Is sleep something we can teach our babies?  Opinions will differ on this subject, but there are a few methods that can allow children to have a better advantage for restorative sleep.

Here are five tried and true techniques that work well:

Schedule:  Right up until your child hits their teens, you will actually have some say in their schedule, as it pertains to going to bed.  We all know that children function well with boundaries and routines, so going to sleep at the same time every night is beneficial—for them and you!

Prepare:  As you prepare your young one for bed, it is essential that YOU are prepared, too.  Your home should be free of commotion, and the bedroom should have dimmed lights, a favorite blanket or toy, and some available water. Prepare the room to be consistent night after night, so bedtime rituals are familiar and soothing.

Pause:  When your child wakes up upset in the middle of the night, take a moment or two to wait before running in and scooping them up into your arms. Sure, we’re all wired to comfort a crying child, but sometimes we interfere with their ability to learn how to self-soothe. Just give your child a few minutes to relax, and if they still need assistance, you’ve at least helped them learn to deal with separation anxiety.

Clean:  No judgment here—your housekeeping is not being called out! Instead, we feel it is imperative to stress how reliant your child is on a clean environment.  With the rise of asthma and so many allergies, you need to do all you can to alleviate any potential problems.  Dust, mold, dander, germs and all types of allergens thrive in bedrooms.  Do you have one of those air filters or live plants in the room?  Do you vacuum regularly in there? Does the pillow or mattress have a filter that acts as a barrier from all kinds of microbial activity?  Yes, would be the best answer to all these questions. If your answer is no, let our Spry Pure pillow help you out!

Rituals:  Ensuring your child’s proper behavioral and physical development will take a lot of positive reinforcement. Nobody would dare to tell you what rituals are right or wrong—go right ahead and sing off key; they won’t notice how bad you are for years. Another favorite of ours is using a white noise machine—but find out what works best for you.  Reading a favorite book, discussing your best moment of the day, or just cuddling are all fabulous ways to send them off to dreamland on a positive note.

Look, we get it…parenting is hard enough without us dumping more on your plate.  However, good sleep is just as important as exercise and nutrition; for our little ones, it is even more essential.  They are going through neurological, physical, social and mental development during their dreams.  Let’s make sure that we do everything possible to help them be the healthiest they can be.

Plus, the longer they sleep—the longer you sleep!