5 Tips to Help Improve Your Children's Sleep

While a sweetly and peacefully sleeping child is every parent's dream, in reality, many face the daily torment of sleepless nights. There can be many reasons for poor children's sleep, but it's important to remember that there is a solution for each of them. LONO sleep experts and GOOD SLEEP CLUB ambassadors share 5 simple tips to help improve children's sleep.

1. Warm milk with honey – to help the little one relax.

The combination of warm milk and honey relaxes the body, helps the little one calm down, and fall asleep more easily. Milk also contains the amino acid tryptophan and calcium. Tryptophan supports the necessary sleep hormone melatonin, while calcium helps the brain absorb tryptophan better.

By adding a spoonful of honey to the milk, the drink will not only become sweeter, but the journey of the amino acid to the necessary points in the child's nervous system will speed up.

2. The Ferber method – to encourage independent sleep for the child.

Named after sleep researcher Richard Ferber, his method is based on the importance of sleep routines. According to the scientist, the problem most parents face is that the evening can cause fear in the little one. Children are scared of the dark, separation from their parents, and sleeping alone in their crib. For this reason, it is important to create a fun sleep routine and prepare for nightly rest with joy. If you sing a lullaby or read a story every night before bed, sleep will be associated with only positive feelings for the little one.

Another important tip from the sleep expert is that the child should fall asleep independently in their crib. The scientist advises that once the child is ready for sleep, you should put them in the crib and leave them to fall asleep alone. If the little one cries, come to the room, stroke their head, their belly, and show that the parents are nearby, but do not pick the child up. The researcher notes that the first days are more difficult, but the positive changes in the sleep routine will be visible after a week.

This method, however, can only be applied to children over 6 months old. Newborns require parental assistance to fall asleep.

3. The sleep companion – for safe sleep.

Children’s sleep specialists say that newborns' cribs should be in the parents' room, but from one year of age, it is recommended to move the child to a separate room. During this transitional period, it is common for children to be helped to fall asleep by a favorite toy that provides a sense of security.

The latest invention is a toy specially designed to help children sleep better, called a sleep companion. These types of toys can emit a variety of sounds to help children fall asleep quickly. For example, sounds heard in the mother's womb, lullabies, nature melodies, symphonic music, white noise, and others.

Many of these toys also integrate a sensory sensor. If the child wakes up and starts crying, the toy automatically turns on and calms the little one.

4. Water therapy – for calming.

Water calms not only adults but also little ones. With its help, children can relax more easily and prepare for a good night's sleep. Studies show that water therapy also helps reduce the discomfort caused by stomach cramps.

It is recommended to bathe a newborn for no longer than 5–7 minutes. As the child grows, this time can be extended. For bathing, choose special baby bathtubs – the child will feel safer in them, and it will be more convenient for parents to bathe the child.

5. The swaddle helps to fall asleep peacefully

You might be surprised, but the method of swaddling children used centuries ago is once again popular. However, modern swaddles are different from those used by our great-grandparents. They are designed in a special way that gently holds the child's arms close to the body, while leaving the legs free. This way, the little one can sleep in a natural frog position.

The swaddle provides comfort to the child and allows them to quickly drift into a restful sleep. It also protects from the reflexes common to newborns that often wake them up.

Improving children's sleep – every parent's task

Quality and peaceful sleep for a child is not only important for their proper development, but also for maintaining the good mood and well-being of the parents. If faced with the problem of long, sleepless nights – read, learn, and try new methods that can improve children's sleep. One of them will surely help!

Read more on the LONO Facebook group: GOOD SLEEP CLUB