5 Ideas To Include In Your Child’s Nighttime Ritual

Most experts recommend that kids need a nighttime ritual to build healthy sleeping habits.  Kids thrive off of repetition and routine since it gives them a sense of security.  Since they know what to anticipate every day about the same time, there are no questions raised about what is expected of them. 

If you’re ready to start developing a healthy bedtime routine for your child, here are some ideas for you to include.

Dinner as a Family 

Eating dinner as a family is an excellent way for everyone to converse and talk about what happened during their day.  It gives everyone a chance to reconnect and share their individual experiences with the rest of their family. 

Eating together as a family may not always be convenient with everyone’s conflicting schedules, however, making an effort to organize it has enormous payoffs over time.  You and your child will likely feel a stronger bond and line of communication as a result.

Brushing Teeth 

Brushing their teeth every night will not only encourage good dental hygiene, but it is a skill which will come in handy for their whole lives. Teaching your kids to get into the habit of brushing their teeth every morning and night will save them thousands in dental bills over the years and may even increase the longevity of their lives.  

Making teeth brushing fun may help get them motivated to join along.  You could consider getting them a colorful toothbrush or creating a special song for brushing teeth. Besides brushing their teeth on a daily basis, it is also imperative to take them to a dentist often for check-ups. Regardless of their age, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to their oral health. When looking for a dentist for your child, be sure to also do ample research to find the best one, like https://www.murphydentistry.com/ for your child.

Bathtime 

Bathtime is a great way to wind your child down in a soothing and calm environment.  Once they get in the bath, it’s a nighttime cue to signal that bedtime is coming.  As a result, they’ll have an easier transition from awake time to falling asleep.  

Bathtime is helpful especially for younger babies who will start to learn that bedtime comes after bathtime from a young age.  They may be much less resistant to bedtime than kids who didn’t start as early with a nighttime ritual.

 

Story 

Reading your child a story is a wonderful way to encourage their imaginations and put them into a sleepy state of mind. As your child gets older, you can take turns reading back and forth to each other. 

It can be a nostalgic experience reading your favorite childhood books to your own child and remembering how much you used to love them.

Lullabye 

Learning a few lullabies is a good idea for parents who want to have a nurturing way to comfort their children after they’re in bed. 

They can either be a traditional lullaby or any song that you love which is appropriate for nighttime.