Do you know that sleeping mistakes of parents are the main cause of sleep problems in kids? Find out common errors made by parents when they put their kids to sleep. Around 40% of kids are found to have some issues with sleeping. It is also observed that if parents take care to avoid some of the mistakes, children develop healthy sleeping habits and all the issues get resolved on their own. They sleep normally and in a manageable fashion. Here are some of the most common mistakes that parents end up committing: In this articleNot Following a Bedtime RoutineGoing to Bed LateSwinging the Child to SleepDistracting Activities or SoundsChanging Sleeping Arrangements OftenNot Following a Bedtime Routine There should be a set routine for bedtime and under no conditions, there should a deviation from it. It is advisable to first build a routine, like taking a warm shower followed by listening to music or reading a story-book before going to sleep. Now, if you are late in outing let the kid sleep or for any other reason do not all of a sudden do away with one of the bedtime activities. It causes a disturbance in the set clock and the kid might face issues in falling asleep readily. Routines are sleeping cues for the child’s system, so, follow it. Going to Bed Late In many families parents follow a routine that leads to a late bedtime. Now if you put your child to sleep late, they will turn hyperactive and exhausted at the same time. During the daytime they will be lethargic and when you try to put them to sleep they will stay awake and try to avoid sleep for even longer time. Here, you need to make some adjustments so that the kid goes to sleep early. Even a half-hour of extra sleep can make quite some difference towards healthy sleeping and preserving the energy levels throughout the day. Swinging the Child to Sleep While it is true that rocking an infant is a soothing and calming action and many kids even as they grow up, get used to this sleeping in motion habit, just because their parents pursue them. You need to note a vital point that sleeping in motion does induce sleep, but a light one, it never causes deep or sound sleep. So cease the motion when the little one falls asleep and gradually as he grows up, develop this habit of making him go to sleep in his bed and not on your arms. Distracting Activities or Sounds Children are found to develop sleeping problems if they live in an environment that is not conducive to sleep during the night. Electronic gadgets and mobile phones should be away from the vicinity of the child when you are putting him to sleep. They act as distractions and once the sleep is warded off, they might find it difficult to calm their nerves down soon. Changing Sleeping Arrangements Often This is another common mistake made by parents. While putting the kid to sleep, do not lie down beside him and then move away when you feel that he is falling asleep. Neither is it advisable to let the child to come over and sleep with you when he wakes up halfway while falling asleep. These are basically disturbing habits that hinder the smooth sleep pattern. These are just some of the common errors made by parents when they put the kid to sleep and find that they have developed sleeping issues. It helps to remember another point that all kids are not the same. Some kids might find it difficult, that is, they are not quite ready to make the transition from the cot to the bed at the given average time. It is believed that kids should be put to sleep in a separate bed when they turn three. Your kid might require a couple of months more to make this transition. Take cues from the child’s sleeping activities or mannerisms and then make the transition. This might well solve half of those problems.
Do you know that sleeping mistakes of parents are the main cause of sleep problems in kids? Find out common errors made by parents when they put their kids to sleep. Around 40% of kids are found to have some issues with sleeping. It is also observed that if parents take care to avoid some of the mistakes, children develop healthy sleeping habits and all the issues get resolved on their own. They sleep normally and in a manageable fashion. Here are some of the most common mistakes that parents end up committing:
Not Following a Bedtime Routine
There should be a set routine for bedtime and under no conditions, there should a deviation from it. It is advisable to first build a routine, like taking a warm shower followed by listening to music or reading a story-book before going to sleep. Now, if you are late in outing let the kid sleep or for any other reason do not all of a sudden do away with one of the bedtime activities. It causes a disturbance in the set clock and the kid might face issues in falling asleep readily. Routines are sleeping cues for the child’s system, so, follow it.
Going to Bed Late
In many families parents follow a routine that leads to a late bedtime. Now if you put your child to sleep late, they will turn hyperactive and exhausted at the same time. During the daytime they will be lethargic and when you try to put them to sleep they will stay awake and try to avoid sleep for even longer time. Here, you need to make some adjustments so that the kid goes to sleep early. Even a half-hour of extra sleep can make quite some difference towards healthy sleeping and preserving the energy levels throughout the day.
Swinging the Child to Sleep
While it is true that rocking an infant is a soothing and calming action and many kids even as they grow up, get used to this sleeping in motion habit, just because their parents pursue them. You need to note a vital point that sleeping in motion does induce sleep, but a light one, it never causes deep or sound sleep. So cease the motion when the little one falls asleep and gradually as he grows up, develop this habit of making him go to sleep in his bed and not on your arms.
Distracting Activities or Sounds
Children are found to develop sleeping problems if they live in an environment that is not conducive to sleep during the night. Electronic gadgets and mobile phones should be away from the vicinity of the child when you are putting him to sleep. They act as distractions and once the sleep is warded off, they might find it difficult to calm their nerves down soon.
Changing Sleeping Arrangements Often
This is another common mistake made by parents. While putting the kid to sleep, do not lie down beside him and then move away when you feel that he is falling asleep. Neither is it advisable to let the child to come over and sleep with you when he wakes up halfway while falling asleep. These are basically disturbing habits that hinder the smooth sleep pattern.
These are just some of the common errors made by parents when they put the kid to sleep and find that they have developed sleeping issues. It helps to remember another point that all kids are not the same. Some kids might find it difficult, that is, they are not quite ready to make the transition from the cot to the bed at the given average time. It is believed that kids should be put to sleep in a separate bed when they turn three. Your kid might require a couple of months more to make this transition. Take cues from the child’s sleeping activities or mannerisms and then make the transition. This might well solve half of those problems.
