Nighttime Anxiety

As a mom putting my kids to bed is sometimes the most stressful part of the day!

My oldest has problems falling to sleep and it makes the nighttime difficult for everyone in the house.  I found these helpful tips and wanted to share them with you.  Do any of your kids have problems at bedtime?

Transitioning your child from a fun and busy day to the quite time of night can be hard.  Here are some strategies to reduce nighttime stress.

1. During a non-stressful time talk to your child about what worries them at bedtime.  If they are scared of the dark offer to keep a night light on.  If they think there are monsters in the  closet do a “monster check” before bed.  Work with them to problem solve together.

2.  If it takes your child a long time to unwind start the bedtime routine earlier.  Give them time to unwind and talk about their worries or fears.  Then follow your normal bedtime routine.

3. Give your child a “worry journal” or “worry doll.”  Let your child talk about their fears or worries.  Your child can tell the doll their fears and the doll can hold your child’s fears or worries for them overnight.   A worry journal allows your child to release their concerns and clear their mind.

I know the worry journal helped with my oldest.  She writes in it before bedtime and it helps her fall asleep quicker at night.

Do you have any thing that has helped your child with nighttime anxiety?