One of the enduring challenges of being a parent is getting your child to sleep. It’s something that many parents struggle with on a nightly basis, meaning that everyone in the house misses out on a good night’s sleep.
While some children are just difficult sleepers, others might need a couple of adjustments to help them sleep better at night. And where better to start than with their bedroom? If you’re struggling to get your child to sleep at night, then take a look at these tips for bedroom changes that could help you all get better sleep at night.
Make sure their bed is right for them
Children grow very quickly, and one of the things they can grow out of is their bed. As they get older, you may find that they start to experience difficulty sleeping, and part of the reason could be their bed. A new bed could be just what they need to sleep a little more soundly at night.
There are all kinds of children’s beds available today that give you plenty of options for your child’s bedroom. High sleeper beds are ideal for creating some space, with space for sofas, chairs, desks and even storage to make them a multi-functional part of the bedroom. Work with the space you have to choose a bed that’s just right for your child’s needs.
Create a calming colour scheme
Your kid’s room should be a calming space that’s designed to help them rest. And while it’s great to fill them with colour and life, there are some benefits to using calm bedroom colours in your decor, including helping them get to sleep easier at night. Think pastels and muted colours – they’ll still bring a bit of fun to the space, but won’t be overstimulating, especially during light summer evenings.
Invest in blackout blinds
Blackout blinds are ideal for helping your child get the sleep they need. These blinds are designed to block out the light, which can make it easier to dodge the ‘but it’s still light outside’ excuses for not going to bed. Blackout blinds can also help your child sleep in a little later, which can be great news for parents needing a little extra rest.
Use some white noise
White noise is regularly used to help babies sleep at night, and this is something that can still be used as your child grows – even many adults use white noise machines to help them sleep! There are a lot of great white noise machines on the market that are ideal for a kid’s bedroom, with features such as lights and timers that can help you adjust their use according to your child’s needs.
Get rid of clutter
A cluttered environment can contribute to a poor night’s sleep, so where possible, make sure your child’s bedroom is a clutter-free space. There are some amazing toy storage solutions you can introduce to help maintain a little order in your child’s bedroom. Teaching them to put their toys away before bed can form a part of their bedtime routine, and encourage them to take care of their bedroom too.
Maintain a comfortable temperature
Anyone can struggle to get to sleep if they’re too hot or too cold, with the summer months in particular proving difficult to get to sleep at night. Your child’s bedroom should be a cool 18-20 degrees, helping their body cool down to prepare it for sleep. Installing a thermometer in the bedroom can help you monitor the temperature, and could be where you would want to keep a smart thermostat so you can maintain an even temperature.
If you’ve noticed your child has had difficulty sleeping for several days, it’s worth measuring the temperature to see if that has had an impact.
Say no to electronics before bed
Electronics can have an impact on sleep, and can be a hard habit to break. Saying no to electronics an hour before bed is a good way to help your child’s mind and body prepare for sleep. From phones to TV, try to be strict with this bedtime rule, and instead stick to a bedtime story to help them relax before bed instead.
Buy some cosy bedding
Nothing beats getting into a snugly bed at night, and the same goes for your children. Buy them some cosy bedding that they will love to get into, for a restful night’s sleep. Choose a suitable mattress, duvet and pillows to make sure they’ve got what they need for a good night’s sleep.
Install a night light for anxious sleepers
A fear of the dark is a common fear amongst children, and isn’t something that’s always easy to remedy. Some tips for helping your child overcome their fear of the dark include finding out if there’s a root cause and trying to talk them through it, giving them reassurance that everything is fine. However, if you find yourself trying a lot of different things without much luck, you could try a night light instead. Night lights with a timer function are particularly useful, turning off once you know your child is asleep soundly.
Try a calming scent diffuser
Some calming scents could also help your child get to sleep at night. Lavender, chamomile and sandalwood are just some of the scents you can use to help your child sleep a little sounder at night. Use a diffuser to release the fragrance into the room, or consider using some pillow sprays to help your child relax once in bed.
Getting your child to sleep better at night can feel like an uphill battle, but in time, it will improve. Making some changes to their bedroom is a great way to try new things that may help them sleep better at night. From the way their room is decorated to using some gentle sleeping aids, these simple changes could make a big difference.
What are your best tips for helping your child get to sleep at night?
