Bedtime Stories

Parenting is the most beautiful of all life’s experiences. But it can also become quite stressful and difficult. One such situation is perhaps the dreaded bedtime. Bedtime for many toddlers resembles more of a battleground with tears and tantrums. However, this doesn’t have to be the case always. By following certain bedtime rituals, you can make going to bed fun and pleasing activity for your kid.

Many children protest going to bed because they are overtaken by the separation anxiety. The feeling of being left alone in a bed with the lights off can be a bit scary and hence children rebel when they are forced to sleep. The whole act of forcing your child to sleep is a wrong way to approach this problem. The idea is to make bedtime fun so that your child enjoys sleeping in a comfortable ambiance rather than protests it.

Setting a bedtime ritual that comprises several enjoyable activities will let your child find it easier to sleep comfortably. There are no set rules for bedtime routines – whatever works best with your child should be adopted. However, here are some no-brainers when it comes to making your child fall asleep calmly.

• Cozy bedroom: It is very important to have a comfortable and pleasing ambience in your child’s room. When the bedroom is welcoming and pleasant, your child will want to spend time in there. Toddlers have a very strong sense of ownership and a budding desire for privacy. A sleeping space created specially for them reflecting who they are and what they like can make a huge difference in how they view bedtime. Kids bed tents for instance are a great way to create a fantasy world for your baby right in his bedroom. These tents come in various shapes and colors with an array of themes. So if your kid loves racing, you can have a car themed tent and for those kids who love the magic of Disney; the Disney tents would be the apt choice. A kids bed tent is just the perfect addition to your child’s room décor.
• Bedtime stories: Many children love to be told stories just before they go to bed. It gives their imagination wings and makes them easily sail into dreamland. You can choose bedtime stories depending on your child’s age. If your child is old enough to read, have him read his favorite story while you listen along. This is a great idea to help build your child’s confidence too.
• Lullabies: Possibly the oldest and the most traditional way to put your baby to sleep is to sing him a sweet and melodious lullaby. An alternative to this is to get some CD’s with bedtime songs and stories and playing them for your child.
• Chatting with your kid: Discussing with your child about things that he has to catch up on for the next day or talking about how his day was is also a good way to make bedtime pleasurable. It also helps to you bond with your kid.

Guest Blogger: Nisha