A sleep expert has revealed her top tips for how to get excited children to sleep the night before Christmas.
Dr Daisy has teamed up with a bed manufacturer to offer advice on how to get giddy children to sleep just hours before opening their Christmas presents. She has given five ways to help get a good night's rest.
She said: "Christmas is such an exciting time of the year for children of all ages, so naturally bedtime can offer up more challenges than usual, but it doesn't have to be. Taking the right steps and instilling precautionary measures long before the big night, or even the nights leading up to the big night, will save you a load of hassle, tears and stress before Mr. Claus arrives."
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Minimise distractions
Dr Daisy said that the bedroom should be the place that promotes sleep, by eliminating distractions and creating the "right ambience" key. The sleep expert also revealed that removing their favourite toys that may be typically kept in the bedroom is a good way of minimising the risk of them staying awake and playing, particularly with electric toys.
The avoidance of screens that may give off blue light is important as well, with the light reducing the release of the sleep hormone melatonin.
Keep daily activities high
Keeping children busy during the day and getting them tired before bed is a likely way of getting them to sleep at night. In a similar way to adults, a busy day makes you tired.
Dr Daisy did make clear however that the last playtime session should end a good few hours before bedtime as it could have an adverse effect if they're riled up at the wrong time. The likes of puzzles and colouring is a good mentally stimulating exercise in the build-up to bedtime.
Routine is key
As with keeping them busy, in a similar fashion to adults, children enjoy a regular routine. In the run up to Christmas this can be vital.
Knowing they get up, eat, play and nap can pay huge dividends when it comes to getting them to sleep as it will be their brains' natural habit to start winding down at a certain time.
Set the mood
Nobody wants to go to bed in an uninviting bedroom so making sure a children's bedroom is comfortable is important. Keeping the lighting low, even with night lights, and making sure the temperature is comfortable is a good way of getting them to settle.
It's easy for kids to wrap up warm with extra pyjamas or duvets but it's much harder for them to cool down so striking a balance is key.
Appeal to the senses
Studies have shown that putting on relaxing music can improve the quality of sleep in children. A study from Great Ormond Street showed that listening to music helped children's perception of pain lessen.
Listening to music can help lower the heart and breathing rate, having a calming effect.
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