Incorporate these calming activities for your toddler's bedtime routine!
Do you ever feel like your toddler has a sixth sense when it comes to knowing exactly when they can drive you crazy? They always seem to know just the right moment to throw a tantrum or become uncooperative. Trying to get them ready for bed during these moments is almost impossible and getting them there takes even more effort. Because of this, bedtime routines are often stressful for parents and their toddlers.
Your child may cry and yell about not wanting to go to bed, or they may try your patience with antics that make putting them down for the night even harder than usual. If you’re finding it challenging to get your toddler into a sleepy frame of mind before going to bed, check out these 7 calming activities for toddlers before bed that have been proven to calm down even the most spirited little ones.
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Calming activities for toddlers before bed:
1. Read together
Reading books together before bed has been shown to calm down even the most restless toddlers. Reading can be a great way to connect with your child while they are in a relaxed state, which is important because bedtime is a great time to cultivate feelings of sleepiness and rest.
Reading together can also help children develop a love of reading, a skill that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. If your child doesn’t like reading, try reading short poems or nursery rhymes that have short, easy-to-remember verses.
Longer poems and stories can take too long for a toddler who is already wound up, making bedtime even more stressful.
2. Bath time
Giving your child a bath can be a great way to help them transition into bedtime and sleep. You can sit with them in the water and play with bath toys, singing songs or reading books to help your toddler calm down, or you can use the water itself as a way to help them wind down.
The sound and temperature of water have been shown to have a calming effect on people, including children.
If your toddler is having trouble sleeping, try giving them a bath a few hours before bedtime. If possible, add some Epsom salts to the water. Epsom salts are a great way to help relieve stress and improve your child’s sleep, as well as helping them relax before bed.
You can also try putting a few drops of lavender essential oil in the water. Lavender has been shown to be helpful in inducing sleep and reducing stress and anxiety.
3. Exercising or dancing together
If you’re feeling like your toddler is too wound up to even read a book, you can try getting them to calm down through exercise. Exercising with your toddler can be a great way to tire them out and help them calm down.
You can try a variety of activities that get your child moving and help wear them out, like dancing, playing tag, or jumping on a trampoline. Keep your exercise time short, though, because you don’t want to wear your little one out so much that they are too tired to go to sleep.
You can also try doing toddler-friendly exercises, like stretching, bending and twisting, or gentle yoga poses. When you are exercising with your toddler, try to keep the mood light and playful.
If your child is too wound up to participate in exercise with you, you can also try calming activities that don’t involve movement, like reading together or listening to music.
4. Calming music or special song
Music can help calm both adults and children, and it can be a great way to help your little one relax and wind down before bed. Find a song that has a calming effect on your child.
Or try experimenting with different types of music to see which genre your child responds best to. Some children respond well to classical music or nature sounds, while others respond better to music with a slower tempo.
Experiment with different types of music to see what works best for your child. You can also try making a special song or playlist that only your child can hear. Playing a song that only your child can hear can help them relax when they are having trouble calming down.
5. Dark room and night-time scents
The environment around your child before bed can have a big effect on their state of mind. Try dimming the lights and turning off bright or flashing lights, or even covering them with a light blanket.
Spraying lavender or other scents that are known to help promote sleep and relaxation can also help create a calmer environment for your child.
If your child likes stuffed animals or other sleep aids, you can also try placing them in a fabric bag with a calming scent.
6. Aromatherapy massage
If your child gets particularly restless at bedtime, try giving them a gentle massage with scented oil. Massaging your child with oil can help them relax and feel calmer, which can help make bedtime easier and promote better sleep.
You can make your massage even more effective by choosing a scented oil that has been shown to have a relaxing effect, like lavender or chamomile oil.
You can also try mixing scents, like mixing lavender and chamomile oil. Be careful not to startle your child. Let them know about any movements you will make with your hands or body, so they don’t jump at the sudden touch.
7. Wrapping up with a hug
Hugging has been shown to be helpful in calming people down and helping them sleep, so consider giving your child a hug before they go to bed.
You can also try reading a story with your child while they are in your arms, which can be a great way to end the evening.
Hugging is a great way to calm down your child and help them relax and feel ready for bed.
Conclusion
Bedtime can be a struggle for parents and toddlers alike. Toddlers will naturally push against being sent to bed, and bedtime routines often struggle as a result. You can help your toddler get ready for bed by engaging in some of these calming activities before bed. These 7 calming activities can help you and your little one feel more relaxed, so the whole family can get a good night’s sleep!
Have you tried any of these 7 calming activities for toddlers before bed? Be sure to share them on Pinterest!
Are you trying to get your toddler to sleep after he or she has calmed down? Check out this post on How to Make a Toddler Sleep: Tips for the Tired Mom to learn more.
