5 Tips For Helping Your Child Through A Sleepless Night
Sleepless nights are quite common in a parent’s life. Both you and the kids can be awake for hours on end, even when there’s school or work to get up for in the morning. You just can’t sleep! Or you can’t get to sleep for long, because there’s a little voice standing by your bed asking if you’re still awake!
But either way, this lack of sleep could have a big impact on the wellness of your household. When you’re tired, you’re more likely to be cranky, unfocused, and feeling like you don’t want to do anything, and the same goes for the kids too.
And seeing as kids also tend to have a lot more energy and ‘hate’ bedtimes, you’re probably going to be losing the most sleep when they’re struggling to settle down for the night. As such, here are a few tips for helping your child get back to sleep.
Check Their Sleeping Conditions
Bedrooms are supposed to be darker, quieter, more relaxing places. However, if your child is bothered by the dark or can’t sleep when it’s totally silent, you can use a night light and a white noise machine.
If They’re Ill
When your child is having a sleepless night due to sickness, it’s a bit like you’re trying to wade through hell just to get them to catch 5 minutes of peaceful rest!
And if that’s what you’re dealing with, and it’s getting close to 9pm and they still haven’t been able to settle, here are some actions that might help:
Know Where Your Nearest Late Night Pharmacy Is
A quick Google search should be able to tell you what pharmacy is closest, and whether or not it operates later opening hours for situations just like this.
If you’re able to nip out for some child-friendly paracetamol or cough mixture at later hours, it’ll be much easier to get your child to sleep comfortably..
Make Sure They Have a Drink
Loss of fluids is never good when you’re ill, no matter if you’re a child or an adult. Make sure you have a glass (or sippy cup) of water, juice, or even milk on hand at all times. And make sure your child knows they’re allowed to drink from it if they need it!
Let Some Air In
Cooler temperatures are much easier to sleep in, and your child might just need some fresh, cool air to help them settle in for a good night’s sleep.
Get Up!
If your child isn’t ill, but still won’t settle down for sleep after an hour or so, just let them get up!
Don’t let them get straight back on a tablet or watch TV with you, but let them do something engaging yet relaxing that’ll help waste whatever leftover energy they’re dealing with.
Sleepless nights are not fun to deal with, especially as a parent! When they happen, run through the list above and see if they help your child to drift off.
