How To Help Kids Sleep Better And Longer

How can it be so hard for kids to sleep?

I mean how on earth has the human race survived when so many of our kids are so rubbish at going to sleep and staying asleep.

And more urgently, what the heck can we do right here, right now to help our kids sleep?

Curiously, I’ve found in my family, what we do during the day is the most powerful way we can help kids actually stay in their own bed, in their own room and sleep through the night.

These five daytime changes have helped my whole family sleep better and longer but I’ve also found the following seven simple tips on how to help kids sleep from other parents have improved bedtime and sleep.

The seven tips cover a whole range of kids sleep problems from monsters and nightmares to separation anxiety, nutrition and bedtime routines.

They’re super practical and not bound up with one parenting philosophy or another and bottom line really can help kids sleep.

If your kids are struggling to sleep do check them out. I would love to hear how you get on.

And for more simple, joyful parenting tips do follow me on Pinterest and check out my other parenting posts.

7 Tips To Help Kids Sleep Better and Longer

1. Banish Monsters

Monsters and nightmares are a natural part of childhood

If your kids are battling some particular pesky monsters – we’ve had some nasty goblins in our house! – arm them with these easy monster swatters from Happy Hooligans.

2. Separation Anxiety

But sometimes the monsters are about something more.

If your younger kids are hyper anxious about you leaving them at bedtime, do read this post from Natasha a parent and Child Therapist.

She really explains what’s going on developmentally to make kids anxious.

And gives very practical advice that helps.

3. Help Your Kids Love Sleep

This post about the real reasons why kids never want to go to sleep also got me thinking.

There are so many little ways we – without thinking – encourage kids to think about bedtime and sleep as a thing to be avoided.

But, as Lauren who wrote it suggests, there are also lots of simple ways to help our kids love sleep.

4. Help Kids Stay In Bed

Lauren – see number 3 – also has 3 unusual tricks on helping kids stay in bed.

If you’ve got kids who keep waking.

And can’t get back to sleep, do check them out!

5. Read Sleepyhead Stories In Your Bedtime Routine

We’re a bit bad at reading super exciting stories at bedtime in our house.

If you are too, check out this fab list of nice, sleepy books from Kelly at Idealist Mom.

They will have everyone nodding off 🙂

6. Sugar Ain’t Good

Now, we might think we’re feeding our kids fairly healthily.

And still be giving them a lot of sugar!

I do think if they’re running around loads, it’s not a totally bad thing.

And as I’ve talked about before a good run around is the best recipe for good sleep but if you’ve got a kid who keeps waking do check out their sugar levels.

This post from Stacey highlights the enormous difference cutting down can make.