All children need routines to feel safe and calm, and bedtime is the time of day when they most require this calm. The habits that are repeated, day by day, and respect for the schedules, are a golden rule so that the little ones have sweet dreams every day.
SLEEPING ROUTINE
– Leave the door open or a nightlight on so that it knows you’re there, but it must get used to sleeping alone.
– Give him a glass of warm milk after dinner. Dairy promotes sleep because it contains tryptophan, an amino acid necessary for the brain to secrete serotonin (the neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation in the body).
– Avoid caffeinated products (cola and chocolate).
– Do not give him food with histamine (an excitant of the nervous system): cheese, anchovies, tuna or spinach.
– It should take a while between dinner and bedtime so that digestion does not hinder sleep.
– It is important that in these previous minutes you do something calm that relaxes you (not that it alters it): put it to read, paint, build something with blocks …
– Before sleeping, give him a bath with warm water to relax him and provide comfort.
– Give it a gentle massage: it will calm you down even more and prepare you to go to bed.
– Tell him a story; Make it a beautiful and inspiring story.
– Hug him, give him a tender kiss and tell him how much you love him.
IF YOUR CHILD IS MISSING SLEEP …
– He will be irritable
– will have bad behavior
– He will be apathetic
– Will tolerate less frustration
– You will have attention and concentration problems
– They can lower your defenses and make you sick