As a parent, you are responsible for providing your child with everything he or she will ever need. You’ll need to formulate a healthy diet and ensure they obtain a sufficient amount of nutrients daily.
Of course, feeding your child might be annoying from time to time, but it can also be fun, despite the potential for a mess. Unfortunately, some necessities aren’t so easy to provide to your child and this is especially true, when it comes to ensuring your child acquires a sufficient amount of sleep.
Although there are some specialists, who recommend sleeping training, most parents do not have the time or energy for this type of lengthy endeavor. Instead, it is essential to find an easy solution, which can deliver rapid results. The good news is that there are some minor changes and techniques, which can encourage your child to fall asleep easier and more quickly than you could ever imagine. Below, you will discover some of the best hacks for lulling your child to sleep, so they won’t put up a fight.
Blacking Out The Room
As an adult, you should wholeheartedly understand that falling asleep is incredibly difficult, when it is sunny and bright outside. The sun’s light will shine into your bedroom and make you want to get outside and enjoy yourself. This is the same for your child. The light will make them feel energetic and full of energy. Suffice to say, it needs to be eliminated, for your child to fall asleep easily.
This can be achieved very easily. Head to your local hardware store and look for thick curtains. These curtains will help to prevent the sun’s light from entering your child’s room. Also, try to keep your child’s door closed, but slightly ajar. Both will help to ensure that your child’s room will remain dark, relaxing, and perfect for a nap.
A Heavy Blanket
In all likelihood, you have a lot of trouble trying to sleep without a blanket of some type. For adults, this has most likely become a habit. A blanket can also be very beneficial for your child. By providing your child with a slightly weighty blanket, you will be able to encourage their body to produce those essential chemicals, which are needed to sleep soundly.
The blanket will help your child produce endorphins and serotonin within their body. This will guarantee that they fall to sleep quicker and remain asleep for a lengthier period.
Suck A Pacifier
Although many people do not know it, a pacifier can be very beneficial for a toddler. Not only can this toy keep your child entertained and happy, but also it can make them feel comfortable and relaxed.
When allowing your child to suck on anything, whether it is their finger or a pacifier, you’re helping to calm them down. By allowing the child to suck on a pacifier, before putting them down to sleep, you will be able to encourage them to fall asleep.
Music Therapy
Music therapy can be utilized for a variety of things, especially sleep enhancement. Just like adults, infants enjoy listening to music, before falling to sleep. Music not only calms the soul, but it can reduce the heartbeat and put the infant in a sleep-induced state, which is very desirable. You can find a variety of mobiles and sleep sound machines that will provide your child with calming melodies that will make them feel content and sleepy.
Bath Time with Lavender
Many parents tend to wait until their child is ready to go to bed, before bathing them. This is genuinely a great idea because warm water with lavender can enhance sleep. As the Japanese say, “A lavender bath can wash away day stresses.” This is true, even in small infants, because they endure a busy day being handled by loving siblings and grandparents.
Swaddling
Newborns are in for a rude awakening when they are introduced to the real world. They find themselves feeling strange and less secure since they exited their safe world in the womb. Swaddling is a great way to help replicate the environment inside of the wound.
You can find a variety of swaddling blankets on the market that are very simple to use. You can utilize these blankets for up to 8 weeks of life, plus many of them will have a Velcro fastener, which will help keep the blanket intact.
Stroll Time
Medical studies show that taking small infants for an evening stroll will put them in the perfect mood for sleep. Just the slight movement of the stroller will loll the baby into a sleep-like stupor. You should take your infant for a stroll at least twice a day, so they can enjoy the outdoors, but be sure to dress them accordingly.
The fresh air will aid in enhancing the respiratory system while clearing the lungs. This will help your infant for a longer period, without being plagued with sinus and chest congestion.
Consistent Routine
It does not matter what kind of tips or tricks you have up your sleeve, if you do not get your infant on a consistent routine, you are going to have problems every night. You cannot let your infant stay up to 11:00 pm every night and expect them to suddenly fall asleep at 9:00 pm. If you want them to fall asleep by 9 o’clock, you need to start making them get into bed by 8:30. Eventually, their bodies will adapt to this routine and they will start growing tired well before 9:00.
It does not make a difference as to which techniques you use to get your kids to fall asleep. However, you should try to avoid activities like watching TV before bedtime, because this type of activity prevents the release of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the brain, which regulates sleep and wake cycles.
Overall
At the end of the day, lulling your child to sleep is ultimately easier said than done. Sometimes, your child will put up a grueling fight no matter what you do. By taking the appropriate actions, you may be able to sidestep this fight and prevent yourself from a future headache. Be sure to establish a calm, relaxing environment for your child. If any one thing is out of place, your child will notice and your efforts will be for naught.