Parents Are Trying Wild Hacks To Get Kids To Sleep – Here's What Really Works

Bedtime battles? You're not alone.Is there anything more knackering than bedtime with kids? A new Cbeebies survey has revealed parents in the UK lose up to 15 days a year on “exhausting” children’s bedtimes – with some 60% skipping consistent routines altogether. Unsurprisingly, the survey of 3,000 parents of kids under six found people are getting very creative to try and get their little ones off to sleep.Some of the more left field bedtime tips included: playing heavy metal music, sleeping in their child’s doorway, pretending to be Santa, purring like cats and recording a business case study as a bedtime story. There was also my personal favourite: rocking a child to sleep in a *checks notes* laundry basket with whale sounds interspersed with rain playing in the background. I’ll be honest, we are in a bedtime hellscape at the moment with a little one who’s developed a real aversion to getting into her pyjamas and bed – oh, and cleaning her teeth. There are tears, there are tantrums (and that’s just me).And it turns out I’m not alone. One parent took to Reddit to share: “My 4 year old is so, so naughty at bedtime. We’ve tried everything and she will not go to bed without a meltdown from her and me.“She pushes me to the brink every single evening and I can’t do it anymore. Every night is a screaming match. I feel like a failure. It shouldn’t be this hard. I don’t know what else to do.”How to avoid bedtime battlesThere’s no magic solution for avoiding bedtime battles or expediting the process of bedtime, however there are certain things we can be doing to try and make our lives easier – and according to experts at The Odd Company, consistency matters more than you might think. The Cbeebies survey found less than 40% of parents follow a consistent bedtime routine. But Andrew Seed, managing director at The Odd Company, suggested establishing a routine is one of the most powerful and underrated tools for improving children’s sleep.“People thrive on routines, especially children. However, when parents are tired or stressed, consistency often slips. That’s when it helps to pause, rethink, and reset,” he said. “The Cbeebies study explains that parents are going to new lengths to get their children to sleep, including sleeping in the doorway, purring, and rocking their child in a laundry basket.“While these ‘hacks’ might work once, it’s not a sustainable sleep strategy. A simple, consistent routine is far more effective in the long term. Repetition builds habit, and habit builds better sleep.”Some of the more general advice for helping to build an effective night time routine includes:Ditching screens at least an hour before bed – opt for a bath, colouring, jigsaws or reading instead. Setting a realistic bedtime and sticking to it – even on weekends. “Start earlier than you expect, to give yourself extra time,” said Seed. “Remember that sleep is a skill. Like any skill, it takes time and repetition. The more consistent you are, the more natural it becomes.”Tidying toys away before bed to signal that the room is for rest now, not play. “Just like we advise adults not to lie awake in bed to avoid associating it with restlessness, children also benefit from clear boundaries. Keep playtime in living spaces and reserve the bedroom for quiet activities to reinforce that it’s a place for sleep,” added Seed.Keeping things comfy – a comfy mattress, favourite blanket and warm night light can all help. Themed bedding can make bed seem more inviting. “A room that reflects their personality can help them feel more at ease when it’s time for bed,” added the expert.Some parents swear by controlled choices to alleviate bedtime battles. So, for example, asking your child: would you like to read book A or book B? Or wear the Disney pyjamas, or the tiger pyjamas? It might also help to implement 10 minutes of ‘special time’ before bed where you set a timer and spend a period of time playing together one-on-one. A parent on Reddit suggested this helped prevent her child from “acting out”.Another parent said creating a visual chart of the bedtime routine could help so kids can follow along. “Maybe move a magnet to the different steps,” they added. Best of luck! Related...'My 5-Year-Old Does This 1 Thing Before Bed And It's Banished Bedtime Meltdowns''I Haven't Slept With My Wife For Weeks Because Of Her Bedtime Habit. Am I Wrong?'Following A Toddler's Bedtime Routine Is The Secret To Great Sleep (Yes, Really)

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