Parenting
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Babble Sleep Guide: Having trouble getting your little one to sleep? We've got the solution!
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There is perhaps no greater affront to the
system than the loss of a good night's sleep in the hazing
ritual that is Freshman Parenting. It's not for nothing
that sleep deprivation is recognized the world over as an
"enhanced interrogation tactic" of the highest order. And
why didn't anybody tell you that "sleeping like a
baby" meant being rudely awakened every two hours?
From how to scare off monsters under the bed to getting your own
monsters to stay in theirs, from feng-shui to Ferber, here are 50+
tools for helping little ones learn their ZZZs. — Allison
Pennell
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How to Handle Bedtime Escape Artists
A recent study in
the Journal of Pediatric Psychology found that a free pass
may be just the ticket to a sound sleep. When kids strongly
opposed to bedtime (you know the ones) were put to bed with the
free pass, parents reported a substantial decline in flight risk
and much less crying out. Follow-up studies after three months
showed sustained gains.
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Sleep: By the Numbers
Infants (3-11 months)
What They Need: 14-15 hours
What They're Getting: 12.7 hours
Toddlers (1-2 years)
What They Need: 12-14 hours
What They're Getting: 11.7 hours
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
What They Need: 11-13 hours
What They're Getting: 10.4 hours
School-Aged Kids (1-5th grades)
What They Need: 10-11 hours
What They're Getting: 9.5 hours
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The Case for Early Bedtimes
We know, it's hard to stick to early bedtimes, but the
consensus of current research shows that they're
key to better sleep and happier kids.Research by the
National Sleep Foundation found that 69% of today's kids
aren't sleeping enough. Just an hour less sleep a night has
been shown to put the ability to concentrate on par with children
two grades younger. Beyond meltdowns, less sleep is linked to
attention problems, dulled memory, hyperactivity, and obesity.
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Arrange Your Kid's Bedroom for Maximum
Relaxing
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DO:
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DON'T:
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Keep the room dark for sleeping. The body makes melatonin at
night in the dark. Light makes the body think it’s daytime.
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Let a child sleep with the TV on or keep a nightlight on all
night. Use one with a timer if a little bedtime light is
necessary.
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Use ambient sound or white noise machines if street or household
noise is a problem.
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Have aquariums or other moving water features in the bedroom.
They might sound soothing, but they can make it hard to sleep.
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Display happy family photos, accomplishments, and favorite
picture’s at kids’ eye level.
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Hang any negative images like sharks, tigers, monsters, war
toys, evil rulers of the universe, etc.
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Keep clutter to a minimum.
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Let your kids have access to all their toys at once.
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Source: Robyn Bentley, Feng Shui Diva.
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For more tips, see Babble.com.
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Related: toddler, soothe, sleep, preschool, parenting, newborn, naps, infant, cry, bedtime
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Posted by Frantastic Mon Jun 8, 2009 1:00pm PDT
As they get a little older say grade school age, I found 1 to 2 hours before bed, giving them a calming environment, (no tv or video games) If they are watching something, make it low key, nothing violent or too stimulating. Also a great story. I have three boys close in age and I needed all the tips I could get for calming my home down when it was close to bed time.
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Posted by Darlene Mon Jun 8, 2009 4:24pm PDT
OK my daughter is the worst at this! We battle it out every night. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE
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Posted by Darlene Mon Jun 8, 2009 4:24pm PDT
OK my daughter is the worst at this! We battle it out every night. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE
Report Abuse
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Posted by Darlene Mon Jun 8, 2009 4:24pm PDT
OK my daughter is the worst at this! We battle it out every night. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE
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