I love Christmas Eve, so much so that I’m not allowed to do bedtimes with the kids. I’m banned. Both the children and my husband have told me it’s a bog fat No. Why? I get too excited and this rubs off on the children, so they get excited too, then none of us sleep until Boxing Day.
I’m the first one up on Christmas morning, I wake earlier than the children. I light the fires and cook their breakfasts then bounce on their beds to wake them.
If you have trouble getting the kids to sleep on Christmas Eve, here are some tips from The Art of Falling Asleep. I couldn’t share any tips of my own, as I’d have your children bouncing off the walls.
Christmas is nearly here! Lots of fun, food and family time but also a lot less sleep than usual for both adults and children. Christmas Eve is especially magical for little ones, but sometimes the excitement can be too much and so bedtime can actually become a little stressful.
Warren Evans bed makers and their sleep expert, Dave Gibson, have put these top 5 tips together to help children fall asleep on Christmas Eve and maintain a good routine over the festive period.
1) Limit sugar intake on Christmas Eve and set a curfew amongst yourselves, informing relatives and friends that may be staying or visiting so they don’t offer candy at 7pm (or later)!
2) If children are going to be sharing a room with others over the festive period, which they are not used to doing or have not done before, aim to have a practice run before hand so the novelty factor does not impact as much.
3) Agree a plan amongst adults in the household as to what happens in the run up to bedtime on Christmas Eve. Having a plan will create the sense of calm that is needed to induce sleep. Talk to your children about this plan in the run up…. “We’ll go to the carol service and when we get back it’s time to put out Santa’s tray and then bath before reading Night Before Christmas and then sleep…” This means they know what is coming which will hopefully aid a positive acceptance of bedtime.
4) Set a device deadline for at least 1 hour before bedtime (including TV). This goes for adults too – and try to take this forward into 2017.
5) Keep a balance between indoor and outdoor activity, aiming to get outside in the morning sunshine and quieting down as darkness descends. This all helps aid a healthy sleep routine.
Another great way of creating a peaceful bedtime for your children is by practising meditation with them. It will calm and relax their mind and body and it is also a lovely way of spending some quality and connective time with your children.
If you found these tips useful then you’ll Warren Evans’ new sleep guide, The Art of Falling Asleep, full of helpful advice and simple techniques to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Read all about it at: https://www.warrenevans.com/sleep-tips/
