Disclosure: guest post in collaboration with Blinds By Post.
We all know the pain of trying to get our children to sleep the whole night through. Trying to remove any distractions and interruptions that could occur at bedtime is definitely a good start. Below we are going to share with you some quick tips to help your child sleep longer and uninterrupted.
Ensure All Electronics Are Unplugged
A recent study which was published in the Pediatrics in November 2017, observed that many children and adolescents are more susceptible to sleep disruptions caused by looking at screens. Blue light which is emitted from these screens is harmful to anyone’s eyes and sleep, but for children, it’s actually more harmful. The reason being is that their brains and eyes are still developing, which means that they see twice the drop in melatonin than a regular adult exposed to blue light. With this drop in melatonin it will mean that there are more likely to be delays in bedtimes, such as poor quality of sleep and fewer hours slept.
Have A Sleeping Environment Designed For Uninterrupted Sleep
Many children have issues getting to sleep, whether that’s falling or staying asleep. This can be down to allergen causing itchiness, overheating and congestion. It is important to have your child tested if you suspect that they may have allergies. If this is the case, you should make sure that you are placing them into bed in low-allergen organic cotton sheets and pyjamas.
Not only is it important to make sure your child is comfortable but, you need to ensure that there are no distractions or things that could cause disruption to their sleep. An example of this would be unwanted light coming from outdoor light sources, such as street lights. The best way to ensure that this light is blocked out is to install a blackout blind, With a roller window blind being the best idea for a bedroom.
Have Food That Aids Sleep Before Bedtime
Many parents will try to give their children fruit before bed but, foods that are high in protein and carbs, such as milk and porridge form similar amino acids such like tryptophan. These are the chemicals which make you feel super sleepy after eating a big turkey dinner. Examples of other foods that will help to aid your child’s sleep are yoghurt, banana, eggs, tuna and any kind of poultry.
Take Control Of The Video Games
It can be difficult to control the amount of screen time your children have, but a study that took place in 2007 found that kids who played on their video games up to an hour before bedtime had a significant increase in the disruption to their sleep. Therefore, it is important that you ensure your kids are playing games a few hours before their bedtime. This will help to reduce the amount of sleep disruption your child has.
Create Complete Darkness
The best and healthiest way to sleep is in total darkness. If your child wants to have a night light, then place it in the hallway and turn it off once they are fast asleep. Another option would be to purchase one that has a timer function, this will be great if you forget to turn off the light once your child is asleep. Another thing to do is to try either blackout curtains or roller blinds, these are great for those children who wake up early due to the sunlight coming in through the window.
Make Bedtimes A Special Occasion
Ensuring that your child is happy and content before going to sleep can really help them to relax. Making sure that you have a bedtime routine in place, which can include give them a lot of cuddles, reading them a story or just having a quiet chat. All of these things will help your child drift off easily to sleep, with less fussing.
About The Author
Blinds By Post is an online retailer, backed by over 25 years’ experience in the Window Blind manufacturing trade. They are a family run business based in Baildon, West Yorkshire.
