How to Help My 7-Year-Old Child Get to Sleep

Your 7-year-old should be getting between nine and 11 hours of sleep per night. If he's struggling to fall asleep at night, he's not getting enough sleep, and it's probably affecting several areas of his life. Fortunately, you can work together to find the source of his problem and help him to fall asleep. The process may take some time, but once he's sleeping regularly, you'll have a much happier boy on your hand.

Things You'll Need

  • Night lights
  • Weighted blanket
  • Spray bottle with lavender water

Instructions

    • 1

      Open the lines of communication. Ask your child why she's having problems falling asleep. At 7 years old, she may be able to tell you that she's having nightmares or is jealous of an older sibling that get to stay up later. She also may just be the type of child that worries about things---when the lights go out, she focuses on the things that give her stress, making her unable to sleep. Knowing that she can talk to you can help alleviate stress.

    • 2

      Create a solid routine. Your child should have a bedtime routine that works for him. For example, he could take a bath or shower, play a game with the family and then read quietly for 30 minutes before going to bed.

    • 3

      Push back bedtime. Your child may simply not be tired when she's trying to go to sleep. When she goes down to bed tired, he won't start thinking about other things and will fall asleep right away. Setting a later bedtime can actually result in more sleep because of this.

    • 4

      Use a weighted blanket. A weighted blanket has small pockets filled with pellets or rice that help make the blanket heavier. This is a great solution for children that are restless and active because it helps them to relax.

    • 5

      Turn on the lights. Many children are afraid of what lurks in the dark. When the lights go off, shadows appear ominous. Your child may be able to sleep if you put a night light in his room or if you let him fall asleep with the lights on.

    • 6

      Eliminate ghosts and monsters. With an active imagination, your child may be fearful of the things that lurk in the closet and under the bed. You can create an "anti-ghost and monster" spray by mixing lavender oil with some water and putting it in a spray bottle. Every night before sleeping, you spray this around the room. An added benefit is that lavender helps people to relax.

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