Bedtime is often a constant battle for parents of small children. For some reason, kids think the house transforms into some kind of magical amusement park for parents after they're asleep, and they don't want to miss out on any of the fun. But for weary moms and dads, all of the protesting can zap away any remaining energy you may have left at the end of the day. If you're tired of the bedtime battle, you need to find bedtime routines for parents that actually work.
They may be too young to read the clock on the wall, but children thrive on routine. Warm baths, soft music, and a transitional stuffed animal can help kids get more comfortable with the idea of going to sleep. Keeping the time and the order of your bedtime rituals consistent each day can also help them anticipate what's next and avoid a lot of unnecessary protesting. That's not to say that they won't try to ask you for an extra five minutes to say goodnight to all of their toys.
Although you're probably willing to try any and everything to get your kids off to sleep, certified sleep consultants the Sleep Sisters recommend limiting your routine to somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes, to prevent putting your little ones down to sleep too late.
Bedtime may never be easy, but trying a few of these tips can help take some of the stress out of getting your kids to sleep.