Your Child's Bedtime

Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the average toddler sleep 12 to 14 hours and that the average school age child need 10 to 12 hours of sleep. Most children do not get enough sleep. Now, if you have a special needs child you know how hard it can be when your child is over tired and over stimulated. If you get your child up for school at 6 a.m. then your child will need to be asleep by 8 p.m. Here are some recommendations for an easier bedtime.
1. Don't tell your child it is bedtime. Give them the power in when they fall asleep. Make bedtime a quiet time. Tell your child it is just relaxing time. Let them have a book or for special needs children, books on tape.
2. Paint your child's room a soothing neutral color. Many parents make the mistake of treating their children's rooms like a playroom, using bright stimulating colors. The bedroom's main purpose should be for sleep.
3. Put good blinds or curtains over the windows to help block out the sun, or even a bright moon. A dark room makes it more likely that your child will have a more productive sleep period.
4. Create a bedtime routine. It is never too late to start this. Decide on a routine and stick with it for 14 days. This will be a lot of work, but studies have shown that sticking with something new for 14 days will make it easier to become a habit.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the child who gets the recommended amount of sleep is easier to put to sleep, easier to get up, and believe it or not, have a higher IQ.