Why is it that the nanny can get your kids to sleep and you constantly have to battle to get your kids in bed? I'm here to reveal some of our not so tricky secrets that might help you get your kids down too if you follow these suggestions. These work for nap time and bed time, but I think these tips will be easier for you to apply at bed time than nap time.
Don't expect any of these tips to work overnight. It can take up to a month of following these rules and routines before your child accepts that this is the new method and stops fighting you to sleep. Remember though a month of tired nights is worth a lifetime of your child going to bed on time.
Schedule
Make a schedule and keep it. Pick a time you are going to put the kids down for a nap and pick a bed time. Don't ever put the kids down more than an hour before or an hour after that time. It's best to watch your children and figure out what time they wake up, what time they start to get cranky and what time they are completely over tired. Pick a time in the day and evening when they are starting to get sleepy, if you wait to exhausted they are going to fight you to sleep even though they are over tired. This is much easier for nannies, because well your kids are our schedule so we adjust the day accordingly. It's much harder as parents to stick to a schedule with errands, friends and busy lives.
Routine
Have a bedtime routine that you follow and stick to it. It can be bath, stories and then bed or tv, book and bed. Whatever routine you do, stick to it every night so the kids know what to expect and what order everything occurs. They are less likely to argue with you if they know after 2 stories (or whatever you do) it's time to go to sleep. If you change the schedule they are not only going to be confused, they will think if they ask for more stories or more tv they can manipulate you into getting those things every night.
The Environment
Start turning the lights down an hour or so before bed. Pick some quiet activities that are relaxing instead of stimulating.
If you have a small house consider buying a portable fan or heater for your child's room and turn it on at bedtime. This will create a white noise and stop the household noises from waking up your child. This is especially good at naptime when you might be doing things around the house. Invest in some blackout curtains for your child's room. Keep the room dark and quiet.
I also suggest shutting the doors. The kids might cry at first but like I said earlier if you set up a routine they come to expect it and no longer fight it. A week of fighting it, is worth a lifetime of the door closed. Not only does the closed door keep the room darker and quieter, but it's also a fire safety issue. Fire will be less likely to travel through a closed door and just might save your child's life someday.
Snacks/Bathroom
Give your child a protein filled snack before bedtime. This will keep your child from waking up due to hunger at some point during the night. Avoid anything with sugar in it as it will make it impossible for your kids to sleep. This might mean that after dinner snack should be cheese and crackers instead of oreos, but it will help your child sleep.
If your child regularly fills their diapers or has accidents consider cutting back on liquids a few hours before bedtime. Allow them just a few sips of water or milk here and there after dinner. If they are potty trained make sure going to the bathroom is the last thing they do before they crawl into bed at night. When you are done reading stories, saying prayers, whatever you do let them run to the bathroom one final time.
The dreaded "moooooooooooooommmmm"
Don't give in! This is the hardest rule for parents to follow but it's the most important. When your child calls for you, tell them once that it's time to go to sleep. No extra cups of water, no one more kiss, your children get nothing. If they get out of bed put them back in bed without chatting or smiling. Be firm and stand your ground. Some of your kids are going to have a meltdown. I've seen it, it's ugly but you just have to walk away and let it happen. Don't give them attention when they call for you or throw a tantrum. Let them sit in their rooms and eventually they will fall asleep. This may make for a rough couple of nights but after a week or so it will get better I promise. You just have to stand your ground and draw the line. You make the calls not your kids.
Only exception is if you hear them get hurt or they are in danger. You know your kids sounds, you know when they are actually hurting or when they just mad. If you need to peek in the door to check on your kids, don't talk to them and don't make eye contact.
Hopefully this helps make your home a quiet and happy place!
Don't expect any of these tips to work overnight. It can take up to a month of following these rules and routines before your child accepts that this is the new method and stops fighting you to sleep. Remember though a month of tired nights is worth a lifetime of your child going to bed on time.
Schedule
Make a schedule and keep it. Pick a time you are going to put the kids down for a nap and pick a bed time. Don't ever put the kids down more than an hour before or an hour after that time. It's best to watch your children and figure out what time they wake up, what time they start to get cranky and what time they are completely over tired. Pick a time in the day and evening when they are starting to get sleepy, if you wait to exhausted they are going to fight you to sleep even though they are over tired. This is much easier for nannies, because well your kids are our schedule so we adjust the day accordingly. It's much harder as parents to stick to a schedule with errands, friends and busy lives.
Routine
Have a bedtime routine that you follow and stick to it. It can be bath, stories and then bed or tv, book and bed. Whatever routine you do, stick to it every night so the kids know what to expect and what order everything occurs. They are less likely to argue with you if they know after 2 stories (or whatever you do) it's time to go to sleep. If you change the schedule they are not only going to be confused, they will think if they ask for more stories or more tv they can manipulate you into getting those things every night.
The Environment
Start turning the lights down an hour or so before bed. Pick some quiet activities that are relaxing instead of stimulating.
If you have a small house consider buying a portable fan or heater for your child's room and turn it on at bedtime. This will create a white noise and stop the household noises from waking up your child. This is especially good at naptime when you might be doing things around the house. Invest in some blackout curtains for your child's room. Keep the room dark and quiet.
I also suggest shutting the doors. The kids might cry at first but like I said earlier if you set up a routine they come to expect it and no longer fight it. A week of fighting it, is worth a lifetime of the door closed. Not only does the closed door keep the room darker and quieter, but it's also a fire safety issue. Fire will be less likely to travel through a closed door and just might save your child's life someday.
Snacks/Bathroom
Give your child a protein filled snack before bedtime. This will keep your child from waking up due to hunger at some point during the night. Avoid anything with sugar in it as it will make it impossible for your kids to sleep. This might mean that after dinner snack should be cheese and crackers instead of oreos, but it will help your child sleep.
If your child regularly fills their diapers or has accidents consider cutting back on liquids a few hours before bedtime. Allow them just a few sips of water or milk here and there after dinner. If they are potty trained make sure going to the bathroom is the last thing they do before they crawl into bed at night. When you are done reading stories, saying prayers, whatever you do let them run to the bathroom one final time.
The dreaded "moooooooooooooommmmm"
Don't give in! This is the hardest rule for parents to follow but it's the most important. When your child calls for you, tell them once that it's time to go to sleep. No extra cups of water, no one more kiss, your children get nothing. If they get out of bed put them back in bed without chatting or smiling. Be firm and stand your ground. Some of your kids are going to have a meltdown. I've seen it, it's ugly but you just have to walk away and let it happen. Don't give them attention when they call for you or throw a tantrum. Let them sit in their rooms and eventually they will fall asleep. This may make for a rough couple of nights but after a week or so it will get better I promise. You just have to stand your ground and draw the line. You make the calls not your kids.
Only exception is if you hear them get hurt or they are in danger. You know your kids sounds, you know when they are actually hurting or when they just mad. If you need to peek in the door to check on your kids, don't talk to them and don't make eye contact.
Hopefully this helps make your home a quiet and happy place!
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