How Children Fall Asleep Better – Tips for a Peaceful Night

Most parents know this: children who don’t want to go to bed. It becomes difficult when they not only stay up late in the evening to play, for example, but simply cannot fall asleep. What can parents do if the child cannot rest after an exciting day?

Children need a regular sleep-wake cycle. If this is disturbed, the cause can be both your sleeping habits and a physical or mental disorder. Sleep disorders or so-called dyssomnias can negatively affect the development of children and adolescents and should be taken seriously.

Eliminate external disruptive factors

Often it is external factors that disturb falling asleep and staying asleep – and which can largely be avoided. In this way, children can react very sensitively to light and noise. Parents should darken the room well and reduce noise such as television and conversations to the minimum. Lush meals, stimulating drinks such as cola or iced tea and unnecessary excitement should be avoided in the evening. Media consumption via tablets, computers, smartphones and television can also disturb falling asleep as a late night occupation – not only for children, by the way.

Create regularity

Children need fixed rituals, whereby they combine going to bed with something pleasant and look forward to it. For the younger children, it can be bedtime stories. Regular reading, relaxing activities such as a warm bath, singing, listening to music or talking about the day can encourage the offspring to be willing to sleep. As so-called “transitional objects”, cuddly toys make it easier for small children to separate from their parents in the evenings. Parents should strictly adhere to bedtime and only allow long stays awake in exceptional cases (e.g. on special holidays). A set daily routine with plenty of exercise and regular meals, at least two hours before bedtime, promotes healthy sleep.

Find inner peace

Everyday family life is often turbulent. As a result, the children are often under constant stress that deprives them of sleep. Fear can also cause a sleep disorder. Bach flowers are very suitable for babies, toddlers, children and adolescents and are a gentle method of balancing the mind with flower essences. Depending on the sleep problem, the appropriate Bach flower drops should be taken.

Aspen is suitable, for example, if you have difficulty falling asleep in the dark or if you have inexplicable fears. Rock rose can help with nightmares, stress and panic attacks. White Chestnut is suitable for children who cannot calm down mentally in the evening.