Simple Things You Can Do To Help Your Child Sleep Better

Disclosure: Many thanks to Smart Bulb and Double Good Media for sponsoring this post. 

Bedtime in our home is often tense. Terrence and I are tired from a full day of work, Ayva is exhausted from being an energetic preschooler all day, but of the three of us, guess who doesn’t want to go to bed? Yup, like most 4 year olds, Ayva has excuse after excuse tons of reasons why she needs to get out of the bed and come into the living room. Over the last couple of months, getting her to stay in the bedroom has been more challenging, so we’ve instituted a new policy. After we tuck her in the bed, she lays down, and if she stays in bed, one of us will go in and read a bedtime story. It’s been working out really well, and it’s nice to spend a few calm moments with Ayva before she goes to sleep.

It took us awhile to figure out what works for our family, but now we finally have a system that benefits us all. We don’t have to holler, Ayva doesn’t have to have a tantrum, and our relaxing evenings can be just that…relaxing evenings! Here are a few tips for things to keep on hand to help you get your little one to bed easier:

1. Appropriate bedtime stories

Make sure the books that you have aren’t going to excite your kid too much. Last night, I read Ayva a book about a little snowflake that eventually became the twinkle in a snowman’s eye. Sweet books lead to sweet dreams, adventurous books can lead to lots of questions and a delayed bedtime. Save those for daylight!

2. Water

Now, if your child is bedwetting, you may want to skip this, but if not, having a small cup of water on the nightstand can be a lifesaver. Ayva tries to come up with anything to get out of the bed, and “I’m thirsty” used to be one of her favorite stall tactics. Now, she can be as thirsty as she wants without leaving the bedroom.

3. Night light

Some kids are really good about going to sleep in the dark. Ayva is not, so we keep the bedroom light on until she falls asleep. I was recently introduced to the Good Night Dimmer Smart Bulb that turns any light into a nightlight. Just plug it into your lamp for normal light  while you’re reading the bedtime story. Once the story is over, you can turn the lamp socket knob, and the light will become night light level until it’s turned off. So neat!

4. Comfy pajamas

Ayva is a wild sleeper, so I need to make sure the pajamas that I buy for her won’t get in the way of her sleep. Pajamas that are too big can get tangled up (not to mention they’re dangerous in a fire or some other unfortunate event), and if they’re too small, they can squeeze your little one’s arms and legs making it tough for them to get comfortable. Find soft, cotton pajamas that fit your child just perfectly to make going to sleep easier.

5. Good sheets

As adults, we know the benefit of having good sheets, but most kids don’t care. As long as it has their favorite cartoon character on it, they’re content. The thing is, there’s a reason higher thread count bedding sets cost more money…because there’s definitely a difference when it’s time to go to sleep. Just like with the jammies, make sure your little one’s sheets are made out of soft, breathable material that won’t get them all sweaty, or make a lot of noise as they’re trying to sleep.

More About Good Night Dimmer Smart Bulb

Good Night Smart Bulbs are shatterproof lightbulbs that are controlled by a computer chip. When the bulb is switched on once, it dims up to full brightness. When it’s switched on twice, it dims down over a 2o minute period until it’s in night light mode. The bulb last 3x longer than other bulbs, and has a 2 year guarantee. It’s perfect for parents with young children to transition them from their  bedtime story until they fall asleep. Find out more about the Good Night Dimmer Smart Bulb:

• Smart Electric Website: http://smartelectric.com/
• Smart Electric on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmartBulbLabs
• Smart Electric on Twitter: https://twitter.com/smart_bulb
• Smart Electric on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SmartElectricLabs

What’s your bedtime ritual? Do you read a story to your little ones? Do they sleep with the lights on? Are you exhausted at night as I am? Leave a comment and let’s talk sweet dreams!