Bedtime routines and how much sleep does your little one need.

Bedtime can be a really stressful and anxiety inducing time for some families; I for one am experiencing sporadic nights of sleep and empathise with anyone who is going through the same thing. We also have the changing of the clocks to contend with on the 29th October which can completely throw some children’s sleep routines. Some older preschool children who struggle with a bedtime routine may benefit from a tick chart whereby they can tick off the different aspects of their individual bedtime routines such as having a bath, brushing teeth, brushing hair, going to the toilet / using the potty, choosing a cuddly toy, getting in to bed, listening to a story. Knowing they have achieved these things and are going to receive a reward (stickers always work) is motivation to make bedtime a success. I have a friend who used to enlist the help of a sleep fairy. The fairy would leave a toy (the fairy had several that would be rotated at random) if the child had gone to bed without any fuss. It worked for my friend and her child, who would be very excited to discover what the fairy had left when they woke each morning (the toy would have to be returned to the special fairy box every bedtime). I’m sure if you go on to Google, you will find many tips and tricks, but it’s important to know you are not alone and that no two children are the same. I have two boys – the eldest is aged 12 years old and the youngest is aged 15 months. The eldest napped for two hours every afternoon and slept from 7pm to 7am without fail, whereas the youngest might nap in the morning – sometimes for 90 minutes but other times only for 20 minutes. My youngest son goes to bed at 7pm following a bubble bath, a story and some milk. Sometimes he sleeps through until 6am, however I am writing this after a night where my sleep was interrupted at 11pm, 1am and 4am. So I do sympathise with those of you whose little ones are what I refer to as lovable sleep thieves. One thing that it is worth considering, is how much sleep your child requires to enable them to grow and develop at an age appropriate pace. Toddlers need around 12 hours of sleep a night and children aged 3-6 years require 10-12 hours of sleep. Bedtime times may vary from household to household but I have always considered 7pm to be a time that suits my family. In preparation for the clocks going back on the 29th October, it might be worth starting to adjust your child’s bedtime time now. My husband and I have started putting our 15 month old to bed 5 minutes later each night (we started this at the weekend) so that when the clocks change his body clock should already be adjusted. Now baring in mind how terribly we slept last night, I am not sure how successful this is going to be. But I am determined to persevere, as I am not prepared to welcome the world at 4am next Sunday when it is my turn to do the Sunday morning get up! So good luck mummies and daddies with the imminent changing of the clocks and remember you are not alone, if you too have a little one who likes to party throughout the night at regular intervals.

Bertie enjoying a contact nap with Mummy