This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of GoodNites* TRU-FIT. All opinions stated below are solely my own. I only share things I feel like my readers can benefit from regardless of compensation.
Sometimes bedtime can be a struggle with Elementary age kids.
I know we moms all thought that the bedtime drama would end by the time they got to Kindergarten, but that is just not always the case.
Some kids will tell you why they don’t want to go to sleep:
- “I’m not tired”
- “I can’t sleep”
- “My friends don’t have to go to bed yet”
But even so, there could be many reason they can’t sleep. So here are 5 things to help you sleep:
#1 Calming Bedtime Routine
You probably all remember rocking or nursing your baby to sleep and reading picture books to your toddlers and preschoolers before bed. Well, older kids need a calming routine too. What that looks like may be different from home to home, but the goal is a quiet, calm activity that is not stimulating their senses too much. So no TV or video games. Here are some ideas:
- Read a book aloud as a family (my mom did this with us up until we were in middle school)
- Let your kids read in their bed (not only is it a calming bedtime routine, but it encourages kids to read!)
- Have your kids bathe/shower before bedtime (plus it saves time in the morning)
- Spend some time talking through your day as a family
- Do family devotions together on Mom & Dad’s bed
#2 - Earlier Bedtime
I know kids think they have all the answers and that what they really need is just to go to bed latter…… but based on my experience, they actually need to go to bed earlier.
When our kids were young I discovered a book that changed my thought on sleep completely. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth explains that often times the problem with not wanting to sleep or getting up too early is that you don’t go to bed early enough. I know it seems counter intuitive, but my kids are living proof it works.
The book not only includes lots of tips and advice based on Dr. Weissbluth’s experience as a Pediatrician, but also includes stories from parents like you and charts showing you how children’s sleep needs change from birth through age 18.
#3 Consistent Bedtime
The goal is not only an earlier bed time, but a consistent bedtime. Now I’m not saying they can’t stay up late 1 or maybe 2 times a week. But as a rule of thumb you need to have them going to sleep around the same time.
Why? We train our bodies. When our bodies know what to do they perform best. Have you ever noticed that (assuming you are not sleep deprived yourself) often times you naturally wake up within 15 minutes or so of when your alarm was set to go off. You’ve trained your body. In the same way kids train their bodies.
#4 Give them Some Light
Many of us are familiar with a toddler or preschooler wanting a night light.
Many older kids like to have on a light too. They may not want to tell you, but it is soothing to kids to be able to look around their room and know everything is okay.
There are lots of “elementary age” lights you can put in their room that will be “cool”
- Glow in the dark stars
- Alarm Clocks that glow or project the time on the ceiling
- Projecting night lights
We also make sure to leave a night light in the bathroom. Even Grandma & Grandpa appreciate being able to see to get to the restroom in the middle of the night!
#5 Give them Confidence (Enuresis)
Did you know that according to a GoodNites® brand study, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 4-12 in the United States suffer from bedwetting.
Bedwetting is a fairly common condition that a child cannot control or be trained out of. They need to wait for their bodies to mature and are ready to grow out of it.
It can be nerve wrecking for a child who fears wetting the bed to go to sleep. Help give them confidence!
- Never joke about their bedwetting. They can’t help it and chances are they are very sensitive about the subject.
- Don’t humiliate your child. They want to stop bedwetting too! You don’t need to tell them to stop wetting their bed. Just love them and try to downplay the bed wetting.
- Use an age appropriate product to keep them dry! Your older child does not want to feel like they are wearing diapers; it’s embarrassing. They want to feel like a big kid, but with the protection they need to not wake up wet.
GoodNites* TRU-FIT* are machine-washable, real underwear with disposable, absorbent inserts that help keep sheets and PJs dry at night. They provides outstanding leakage protection with a six-layer advanced absorbent technology to help lock in wetness.
Our Story
Like many other families, we have a nocturnal enuresis (bed wetter) in our house.
I have three kids and only one has this problem. It’s not a parenting thing. It’s not a “training” them thing. It’s a medical condition that kids will eventually grow out of.
And if I am completely honest with you all, I suffered from enuresis as an elementary age child as well. I remember all to well that feeling of embarrassment when I’d wake up wet. I was too ashamed to tell my parents so I would do my own laundry hoping they didn’t notice. I didn’t got to many sleepovers because it was something I couldn’t control – no matter how little water I drank or multiple trips to the bathroom I made. Trust me, I tried everything because I did NOT want to wake up wet anymore.
So when I realized my daughter was having this issue I was very intentional about letting her know it was normal. She would grow out of it. I didn’t make a big deal out of it, but helped her with a smile. But finding something to help her keep dry that was age appropriate (oh they notice that!), would fit her (she’s not a T size any more) and provided the leakage protection we needed was challenging.
We’ve been super impressed with GoodNites* TRU-FIT*! My daughter loves that they are real underwear. We love the leakage protection they provide. And we all love the happier (drier) Goodnites!
You can get GoodNites* TRU-FIT* Underwear at Target for boys and girls in sizes S/M and L/XL. There are different colors and patterns for each size. Plus you can even save $2 by using the on-pack coupon.
Plus don’t forget to visit Target’s Website for a $2 off coupon November 2-November 29, 2014!
Come learn more at GoodNites* TRU-FIT* #TRUFITTARGET Twitter Party happening Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 8-9am PST.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of GoodNites* TRU-FIT
