How to Teach A Child To Sleep Later
Children who leave their beds before the proverbial "early bird" leaves his nest exasperate their bleary-eyed, exhausted parents. If this scenario replays each morning in your home, you are not alone. Early morning waking is a commonly reported sleep problem. Fortunately, you can help your child to sleep later or remain in bed longer by identifying the child's individual sleep pattern and sleep needs. Modify a child's sleeping habits by adjusting the bedtime schedule and establishing consistent bedtime routines.
Things You'll Need
- Insulated curtains
- Shades
- Soft toys
- Books
Instructions
Record your child's sleeping habits for at least one week. Write down what time your child goes to bed and awakens. Note if your child takes a nap and when the nap occurs. If your child stays alert during the day, does not nap and falls asleep and awakens easily, he is probably getting adequate sleep. Look for variables that disrupt your child's sleep. Early morning light, noise and hunger can sabotoge sleep for a child who awakens early. Insulated curtains and shades help to keep the child's room dark in the morning. Eliminate sources of noise, especially during the early morning hours. If early morning hunger wakes your child, provide regular meals and snacks during the day, and observe your child's eating pattern. Practice a consistent bedtime routine that includes calming rituals and a regular lights-out time. Let your child's age and preferences determine bedtime rituals. Examples of bedtime rituals include a bath, a snack, goodnight kisses and stories. Modify your child's bedtime and nap time to discourage early waking. Reschedule your child's bedtime by putting the child to bed 10 minutes later each night until the new bedtime is approximately 1 hour later than the original bedtime. If your child takes a morning nap, delay the nap for 10 minutes each morning until the new nap time is about 1 hour later than the original nap time. Practice quiet play with your child to teach how to quietly entertain himself in the early morning. Show your child where to find play items and let him demonstrate how he will play with the items in the morning. Add interest and variety by rotating the play items weekly. Examples of play items include soft toys and books.
