How to Avoid Bedtime Battles
Bedtime problems and battles are incredibly common. In fact, 50% of parents of young kids report going to war to get their kids to snoozeville at night (and the other 50% are lying ... just kidding!). So when you feel like pulling your hair out when your little insomniac defiantly faces you and refuses to hit the sheets, remember, you're not alone.
Here are a few tried and true ways to handle bedtime battles:
- The best way to avoid bedtime battles is to establish a rock-solid bedtime routine that you follow to the letter Every. Single. Night. A bedtime routine signals the body that it's time to sleep. And kids thrive on routines (even if they bore you to tears!).
- Don't let your kid get overtired or she may have a hard time winding down and knocking off to dreamland.
- Don't try to put your kid down before he's tired. While YOU might be ready to say "night night" at 5pm, your kid may not be tired yet and will fight you tooth and nail to stay awake. If your kid is still happily bouncing off the walls at 11pm, take a look at his nap schedule. He may be getting too much sleep during the day. If he's napping for 5 hours in the middle of the afternoon, you can bet he won't be tired come bedtime.
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