Sleeping time? I just dread it every day. Anisha just won’t fall asleep, Doctor! I have tried so many things, and nothing works! There is so much to do and so little time. I have work that I have carried home from the office, and I must prepare for tomorrow. Rahul (my husband) has not yet come home, and even if he comes, he certainly does not help, claiming fatigue and overwork. Sounds familiar? In the end, we just give up and let her be awake until she is dead tired and then put her to sleep. The problem is that the last phase is associated with so much fussiness, crying, tantrums, and an upset family.

A few helpful tips will go a long way in overcoming this problem. Children are not switches that go off and on at our bidding. You need to have a plan for bedtime with variations built in, review the plan regularly, and execute it with finesse! Sounds difficult, no! It will soon become second nature to you.

Set bedtimes for your child and be consistent!

Do not wait for your child to look tired or sleepy before you try to put your child to sleep. If the child becomes excessively tired, stress hormones like cortisol kick in, and it takes much longer to fall asleep. She may become excessively irritable and cranky and cry herself into a tantrum.
Try to get your child to sleep around the same time with a few exceptions every night so that her body falls into a natural biorhythm.

Create an environment that is conducive to sleep

This means no TV, electronic devices, or loud radio (you can put on soothing music if you like) anywhere in the house. They stimulate the senses too much. Your child’s bedroom should be darkened as much as possible. You cannot expect your child to sleep when somebody else at home is watching television or playing games.

Avoid over-exciting and excessive physical activity

For at least an hour and a half before bedtime, avoid vigorous physical activity before sleeping time – it takes time for the child to wind down.

It is all about choice, baby!

In the days when ordering a meal at McDonald’s or Burger King can seem more complicated than solving a sudoku puzzle, it is only likely that your child will appreciate any choices that you offer! They may seem irrelevant and trivial to you, but your child feels that she is at least partly responsible and puts her in the right frame of mind.
Do you want to wear pajamas or your night dress tonight?
The green one with polka dots or the pale blue one?
Do you want to hear a story tonight, or do you want to hear a lullaby?
You get the idea – do let us know what choices you offer your child in the comments section below so that others may benefit.

Remember the 4 B’s – establishing a bedtime routine

Start this routine about an hour before going to bed, and your sleeping time battles will soon be a thing of the past.  

• Bath: A warm water bath relaxes the body and mind, and your darling is likely to be soothed and calm after her bath.
• Brush: Use the correct brushing techniques for babies of all ages.
• Books: No better quality time than reading books together and interpreting what you read your way for your child. It does not have to be inspirational or earth-shaking – anything silly or whimsical will do just as well.
• Bed: Now turn off the lights, slowly quieten down, offer her a soft cuddly toy that will sleep with her and hug, and soon your little darling will be in the land of dreams

Preferably let the child finally fall asleep on her own

This is because if your child’s sleep lightens at night, she expects you to be sleeping next to her, as you were before she went to sleep.

Good night and sweet dreams to you, Anisha!