Tips for getting kids to bed.

I was just recently discussing this topic with a friend of mine online.  Shes having issues with her daughter and needed help.  I too have gone through spurts with Allie when I think "FINALLY, we're over that hurdle"  and then a week or so and again we have another battle... 

Although there is no magic answer that works 100% of the time for ALL kids there are some things that can help.

Top 5 tips
1.) Keep a schedule/routine - I know you've heard this before everyone says it but its hard to do.  Create a routine and stick to it.  This will help even if you are out of town.  Children like routines.  If you start one when they are small it will become second nature for them.

2.) Storytime - This is part of our routine that my daughter looks forward to.  Its daddys one on one time with her.  It helps her wind down from the day and I believe gives her something to go to sleep dreaming about.  Kids need something to help them wind down from the day and this is also great to promote reading skills later.

3.) MUSIC or soft white noise - when my daughter was young we figure out that she was listening to EVERY noise to keep herself awake.  She was and still is VERY nosey.  SO we started playing classical music to give her a distraction.  This soothed her and blocked out all other things going on.  Today when she hears classical she still calls it sleepy music AND it usually starts her yawning.

4.) Get rid of EXCUSES- this is easier said then done.  to try to minimixe Allie goes to the bathroom AFTER her story.  She used to go before her story BUT for a while there she insisted on getting up a second time when the story was over so we just switched the order.  We also have let her have a very small cup of water so if she feels the need to get up and get a drink she knows its there.  After a few days when she realized that we were treating her like a big girl she didnt get up as much to drink it.

5.) START EARLY - We have found this is VERY important.  when it gets later She fights it more.  If we eat early and get ready early we can usually get through the night without a struggle. 

I know I said top 5 but heres what to do if all else fails.... 

FALL ASLEEP NEXT TO HER.  LOL  Not sure its on purpose but thats what my husband does and it usually works when nothing else does. 

Thanks to twitter moms and  http://www.dramau.net/  for getting me to post about this topic.