How to Convince Your Child to Stay in Bed
Elementary school-age children and preteens require 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night to be at their best the next day according to KidsHealth.org. Children can become disagreeable and have difficulty in school when they have not had an adequate amount of quality sleep. You can help your child to get his needed rest by enforcing a regular bedtime and discouraging him from leaving bed in the middle of the night, except for emergencies.
Instructions
Be decisive about your rules regarding co-sleeping. Allowing your child to sleep in your bed at night can lead to a disruptive night of sleep for both of you. If you are OK with cosleeping one night and discourage it the next, it will send him mixed signals. Explain your rules about bedtime and staying in bed, during the day when everyone is wide awake and calm. Your child may be sad about the new restrictions on co-sleeping, but the goal is more quality sleep for everyone involved. Emphasize that she should only leave her bed for emergencies, such as being sick. Pick an appropriate bedtime and stick to it, giving out warnings when it approaches. Let your child know when it is one hour, and then ten minutes until bedtime according to KidsHealth. As bedtime draws near, stick to a routine, such as a bath, followed by going to the toilet and brushing teeth before being tucked in with a quiet chat - may kids find it more comfortable to talk about things that bother them at bedtime than earlier in the day - and a bedtime story. Having a routine at bedtime helps kids to learn that they are expected to go to sleep soon, and it helps them prepare for sleep. Give your child enough time to wind down before bed. He might have a hard time waiting to fall asleep, just staring at the ceiling. Try soothing diversions, such as soft music or setting up a toy that projects simple pictures onto the ceiling according to Susan Stiffelman, family therapist. Giving him something to focus on may help him drift off to sleep easier. Chase away monsters if this is a fear that prevents your child from going to sleep. Put a nightlight in her room and do checks by looking in the closet and under the bed for monsters. You can give your child a monster repellent, a spray bottle with water, that magically sends them away according to Susan Stiffelman, family therapist. Nightmares can chase your child out of bed as well. Watching or reading things that scare him may cause nightmares. Assure him nightmares cannot hurt him, suggests KidsHealth.org. Most children have nightmares now and then, but only a small percent have night terrors - an intense reaction to fear during deep sleep. A child's reaction to a night terror is typically far more dramatic than to a nightmare. KidsHealth.org offers the following recommendations: Don't wake him during a night terror because this can be very startling and disorienting. Ensure he doesn't hurt himself while thrashing around, and when he awakes, tug him back in with a hug. To help prevent night terrors, reduce stress, and ensure he's not overtired. Return your child to bed immediately if he gets up in the middle of the night. If he cries out for you repeatedly, check on him, but wait a little longer each time according to KidsHealth.org. Tell him that if he stays quiet for a while, that you will come back to check on him in a bit. This reassurance will help him relax and go back to sleep. Praise your child if he follows the rules and stays in bed all night. This will encourage him to do the same the next night.
