Parenting Tips on Aug. 6 Fox 4 Morning News: Overcoming Bedtime Battles

Most Americans are sleep-deprived ... it's almost become part of our culture.  Although you only need 7 and a half to 8 hours of sleep, did you know that your kids need almost 11 hours to function?  Improving your child's sleeping habits is one of the keys to improving their behavior, attention and ability to cope.

Thoughts about sleep

• You cannot demand your child to go to sleep
• You can set the stage for her to fall asleep
• Transition gradually from play time to bedtime
• Include time for teeth-brushing, cuddling, etc.
• Build a routine: activities that lead to bed

Routine builders

• Give her a bath, brush her teeth, read her a book, then put her to bed
• Give him a choice of books to read
• Repeatedly return your child to bed if he gets up
• Do not talk or engage your child after bedtime
• It will take practice, expect worse behavior at first
• Wake your child up at same time each morning

For more information on bedtime routines, please see our bedtime tip sheet.

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