How To Put A 4 Year Old To Sleep?
It can be tough getting a four year old to go to bed. However, there are some tips and tricks you can use to help ease the process.
One method is to create a bedtime routine. This can involve things like reading a story together, singing a song, or saying a prayer. Consistency is key with a bedtime routine - do it every night at the same time to help your child know when it's time to wind down for the evening.
You can also try using a night light in the child's room. This can help ease any fears of the dark and make bedtime feel more comfortable and safe.
Finally, make sure to tuck your child in tightly. This can give them a sense of security and help them feel more at peace as they drift off to sleep.
With these tips in mind, you should be able to help your four year old get a good night's sleep.
Start with a schedule
The first step to success is creating (and sticking to) a regular sleep schedule. Just like with infants, preschoolers do best when they have a set bedtime routine. That means going to bed and waking up at around the same time every day even on weekends. A bedtime routine might look something like this:
- Get ready for bed 30 minutes before sleep
- Brush teeth and put on PJs
- Read one or two stories
- say goodnight to mom and dad
- Go to sleep
Once you've got a schedule in place, it's important to stick to it as closely as possible. That means no bonus” naps during the day or late nights on the weekends. If your child is getting enough sleep during the week, they won't need (or want) to make up for lost sleep on the weekends. In fact, doing so will only make it harder to stick to the schedule come Monday morning.
Make sure the bedroom is sleep-friendly
Just like adults, kids sleep better in a dark, quiet, and comfortable environment. If your child's bedroom isn't conducive to sleep, now's the time to make some changes. Install blackout shades or curtains to keep the room dark, invest in a white noise machine or fan to help drown out anyoutside noise, and make sure the mattress is comfortable. If your child is still sleeping in a crib, now might be the time to transition to a big kid” bed. Doing so will make them feel grown up and might even make them more excited about going to bed.
Say goodbye to screens
Just like adults, kids need to wind down before bedtime and that means no screens. That means no TV, no iPad, no phones, and no video games. Not only do screens produce harmful blue light that can disrupt sleep patterns, but they also tend to be stimulating not exactly what you want right before bed. If you need help getting your child to unplug, try setting a screen curfew” an hour or so before bedtime. Once the screens are off, focus on calming activities like reading stories or taking a bath.
