Tips to keep kids bedtime routines around the holidays

Write an article about tips to keeping a bedtime routine around the holidays for kids.

When the holidays roll around, it can be tempting to let bedtime slide. After all, there are parties to attend, relatives to visit and presents to stay up late and open. But for kids, a regular bedtime routine is important all year long – especially during the hectic holiday season.

Here are a few tips to help keep your child’s bedtime routine on track during the holidays:

1. Stick to a regular bedtime as much as possible. If your child usually goes to bed at 8:00 p.m., try to stick to that time as closely as you can. Yes, there will be nights when bedtime gets pushed back a bit due to holiday events. But on regular nights, try to keep things as close to normal as possible.

2. Keep bedtime rituals intact. If your child has a bedtime story, bath or other ritual that he or she enjoys, try to keep that going even during the busy holiday season. These rituals help kids wind down and get ready for sleep, so they’re important to maintain.

3. Don’t let your child “bank” sleep. It can be tempting to let your child stay up late one night so he or she can sleep in the next day. But this can actually disrupt your child’s natural sleep rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep at night.

4. Avoid sugar and caffeine before bed. This is a good rule to follow all year long, but it’s especially important during the holidays when kids may be consuming more sweets than usual. A sugar high before bed can make it harder for kids to fall asleep – and stay asleep.

5. Keep the bedroom dark and quiet. Again, this is a good sleep rule to follow all year long. But during the holidays, when there are more lights and noise around the house, it’s even more important to create a dark, quiet and peaceful bedroom environment for your child.

With a little planning and effort, you can help your child maintain a regular bedtime routine throughout the holiday season – and get the good night’s sleep he or she needs.