SLEEP - WEEK 1

Lots of young children find it difficult to settle down to sleep and will often wake in the night. For some people, this might not be a problem. But if you or your children are suffering from a lack of sleep, there are a few simple techniques that you can try. Every child is different, so only do what you feel comfortable with and what you think will suit your child.

Sleep is such a huge topic so we will be talking about it over the next few weeks. This week we are going to tackle a good bedtime routine:

 - Decide what time you would like your child to go to bed.

 - If your child usually goes to bed quite late and you would like it to be earlier, start a winding down routine about 20 minutes before the time that they would usually go to bed, then bring this forward by 5 to 10 minutes each week until you get the bedtime you want.

 - Try not to use any gadgets such as phones or iPads, these will stimulate children's brains and we want this time to be as calm as possible.

 - Set a limit on how much time you spend with your child when you put them to bed. For example, read only 1 story, then tuck your child in and say goodnight.

 - Give your child their favourite cuddly toy, dummy (if they use one) or comforter before settling into bed.

 - Leave a beaker of water within reach and a dim light on if necessary.

 - If your child keeps getting up, keep taking them back to bed again with as little fuss as possible. Try to remain cool and have as little verbal interaction as possible with your child.

 - Try to be consistent.

 - You may have to repeat this routine for several nights, try not to give in, you will get there in the end.

If you have a parenting concern, you can contact Mrs Easty via the school office - admin@burlingtoni.org.uk