Ask some parents about the worst time of day with their children, and they will answer with a resounding “Bedtime!”
How can you make bedtime less of a chore and more relaxing for you and your child? Well maybe you should try some soothing bedtime rituals that slowly relax your child so that they can fall asleep on their own. Children feel secure when they have regular routines; they know what to expect and family rituals that you establish in your home give your child a sense of belonging.
Here are some ideas for developing a regular relaxing bedtime routine:
• Establish a regular time to begin your nightly bedtime routine and be consistent; consistency helps everyone know what to expect.
• Begin with a warm bath to initiate the relaxation process. After the bath, perform the tooth brushing and hygiene routine and have your child use the bathroom for the last time.
• After your child is dressed for bed, have him or her lie down for a gentle massage. During this time, you can sing to your child or briefly discuss the good parts of his or her day. Keep it upbeat and positive.
• Read a bedtime story to further relax your child. Sometimes they will even fall asleep at this point because they are so relaxed!
• Say a prayer with your child, thanking God for the blessings of the day and asking for His blessings on family members and those who are sick or in need of some extra attention.
• Make sure your child has that favorite stuffed animal, doll or blanket to cuddle with as they fall asleep.
• As you leave your child, use the same goodnight phrase, such as, “I love you – pleasant dreams!”
• Plan for what you will do if your child gets out of bed after you have said your final goodnight. Be firm and get them right back to bed – no stalling!
Struggling to find the source of your back pain? Schedule a visit with our practice. Many people with sudden, acute back pain think, “But gosh, I didn’t even do anything!” What many folks don’t know, or understand, is that it’s not always a case of what you did five minutes ago, or what you did yesterday, or even what you did last week that’s causing the current problem; it’s more a case of “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” no pun intended! Discovering the Cause Sometimes it’s chronic stress that wreaks havoc on your nervous system and finally causes your back to “go out” or a “pain in your neck” because of the strain of carrying the weight of all that stress on your back and neck. Let’s use an everyday example to demonstrate. You go to the local eatery and put your purchase on your bank debit card. All of a sudden, bells and whistles go off because you didn’t have enough money in your account to cover that charge. It’s not this charge that “broke the bank,” it’s all t...
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