Without realizing it, some common obstacles can prevent children from getting a good night’s sleep.
Sometimes without even realizing it, certain habits can affect children’s falling asleep or the quality of their sleep. Yet a few small changes are enough for them to recover better and be in better shape during the day.
The importance of ritual and good habits
Finding a regular rhythm is essential for children whose biological clock is in full swing. For this you can start by keeping regular times for meals, bedtime and waking up, including weekends.
Do not hesitate to slow down the rhythm before bedtime with a relaxing routine that can involve reading, listening to soft music or even drawing. Then, pay attention to your child’s signs of fatigue to put him to bed when his biological clock calls for it.
Finally, sleep also prepares for the day: to sleep well, a child needs to move regularly and avoid spending too much time in front of screens, especially before bedtime.
What are the mistakes to avoid?
Wanting to do well, some parents get into the habit of staying with their child until he falls asleep, or taking him to their bed when he wakes up at night. The long-term problem is that the child learns that he needs an adult to fall asleep and may be unable to go back to sleep on his own, thus affecting the quality of his sleep.
It is therefore best to teach your baby as soon as possible to fall asleep on his own, after 6 months for example. If he wakes up and is crying, you can get up to make sure everything is okay, but it’s best to leave him in bed to comfort him.
If your child is over 1 or 2 years old and needs you to fall asleep, you can try progressive waiting, which consists of waiting longer and longer before going to see him (5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes) or you can reinforce his behavior with a reward, such as a sticker, if he does not get up or only a limited number of times during the night.
Find out more: “Sleep without tears”, by Rosa Jove, Les Arènes editions.
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