Tips to Help Your Child Get Good Sleep

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Zarbee’s Naturals. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

If you have a sleep-resistant little one, as you very well may after Daylight Savings Time, you know how tiring it can be for both and the child. Adapted from tips from Zarbee’s Naturals, here are NINE sleep tips for helping your child get a good night sleep.

1. Routine, Routine, Routine: Together, with your child, develop a night time routine that you both can adhere to. For our preschooler, I use a checklist app on the iPad to help him keep track of his tasks that lead up to bedtime – brushing teeth, washing face/hands, pajamas, etc. The routine will not only streamline bedtime, but give kids some control over the process.

2. Make Bedroom Sleep Friendly: Make sure the room is free of electronics, gadgets or stimulating toys/activities. Keep the the room cool, draw shades, consider light music or white noise and allow favorite stuffed animals or blankets.

3. Keep to Schedule: Try to keep bedtime the same every night. There will be times this is not possible, but for the most part, bedtime should occur around the same time.

4. Help Children Learn How to Sleep: Children should get practice at falling asleep on their own. You can check-in, but the ultimate goal is falling asleep alone.

5. Be Consistent: Children will try to stall bedtime and come up with a lot of excuses. Be consistent with the expectations of bedtime. Don’t deviate from what you expect/ rules established.

6. Know How Much: Know how much sleep is necessary for your child’s age. Look at bedtime vs. awakening time.

7. Program the Sleep Cycle: Wake your child around the same time each day and do so with dramatic wake – open the shades, say good morning, let light in. It will help signal your child’s body to know it is time to wake up – helping them fall into a natural sleep pattern.

8. Go Gadget Free in the Evenings: The light and stimulation of gadgets and even TV can interfere with natural sleep cycles. So, opt for games, toys, crafts or books.

9. Natural Help: If these strategies are not working, and there has been a period of disruption, such as Daylight Savings Time or a big change/ life event, Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Sleep can help.

Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Sleep is helpful in helping to reset children’s (age 3+) sleep cycles. Developed by a father and pediatrician, Dr. Zak Zarbock, this product is safe and effective at alleviating occasional sleeplessness. The product contains 1 mg of melatonin, a hormone our bodies produce naturally during sleep cycles. Children’s Sleep is not habit forming, and won’t leave your child groggy or tired in the morning.

My son had gotten sick and we had a lot going on. He started to have a lot of trouble with sleep. I could tell he was restless going to bed and just couldn’t seem to fall asleep anymore. We used Children’s Sleep for a week, and the difference was really amazing. I would highly recommend this product to parents – to have on hand – for periods of change or travel.

Valuable Coupon

For parents who need a little extra help, Zarbee’s Naturals is sharing a coupon code for $1.50 off Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Sleep (and free shipping on all orders over $10). It’s available online at www.zarbees.com using zarbeessleep at checkout.