Helping an Anxious Child Fall Asleep: 5 Tips for Parents
Does your child have trouble falling asleep at night because of fears or anxieties? This is unfortunately a common occurrence, but there are ways that you can make bedtime a more relaxing time for everyone with these 5 tips for helping an anxious child fall asleep. Includes a review of a beautiful new children’s album of lullabies in Spanish – be sure to enter the giveaway at the end for a chance to win your own copy!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of La Luna for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Helping an Anxious Child Fall Asleep: 5 Tips for Parents
1. Know the Triggers
You know your child better than anyone, so keep an eye out during the day for things that may be causing anxiety at bedtime. This could be, of course, a major life event or an incident at school, but you should also be aware of what they are watching and reading. Even media considered kid-friendly may be upsetting for a sensitive child. My son once was afraid he would get nightmares after seeing a photo of a shark in a kids’ encyclopedia! Consider how to minimize or manage whatever is causing the anxiety.
2. Create Visual Reminders
One method for helping an anxious child fall asleep is to give them child a concrete embodiment of their fears, such as worry dolls, that they can interact with. This helps them feel in control of their fears and can help them deal with them more easily. This may seem silly or superfluous to us as adults, but children really do benefit from these visuals. Depending on the age of the child, you could have them use a stuffed animal or doll to represent their fears and have them talk to it. You could also Set up a monster trap in the closet, or hang a dreamcatcher over the bed to catch nightmares.
3. Natural Remedies
Consult with your healthcare provider about the use of natural sleep aids. We have had great success with Hyland’s 4 Kids Natural Calm’n Restful Tablets
4. Meditation
Simple breathing exercises can help a child let go of their anxieties and calm down for bed. You can also try doing some guided meditations with them. These are great for kids that just can’t seem to shut off their brains at bedtime. I adore Good Night, Animal World: A Kids Yoga Bedtime Story
5. Soothing Music
A wonderful way to set the mood for helping an anxious child fall asleep is to play soothing music. A new favorite album at our house is the beautiful La Luna (Canciones para Soñar)
These Spanish language songs are a mix of classic lullabies like Velo qué bonito and new gems. Infused with the sounds of the Andes, La Luna (Canciones para Soñar) features guest vocalists from Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and the US. Even songs with which I was already familiar, such as Un elefante, are presented with such fresh instrumentation that I never tire of hearing them.
If you are teaching your children Spanish, there is the added benefit, of course, of exposing them to beautifully done music in the target language. I really appreciate how clearly the lyrics can be heard, making it easy for little ones to understand even if they aren’t native speakers.
And I am thrilled that 123 Andrés is partnering with diaper banks in the US: $1 from every copy of La Luna purchased during the first year of its release will go to support the Greater DC Diaper Bank and the National Diaper Bank Network!
Giveaway
And now you could win your very own copy of La Luna (Canciones para Soñar) from 123 Andrés! Simply comment on this post, letting us know your child’s favorite part of their bedtime routine – is it bedtime stories, or a snuggle with a favorite stuffed animal? Let us know!
Contest runs through Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at midnight PT. Winner selected by random selection. US shipping only.
-6 Comments-
Back scratches are a favorite bedtime routine in our household, as they were in mine when growing up.
Back scratches are so relaxing!
Both my kids love to read books prior to sleeping. My son is only one and half year old, he enjoys flipping through the pages and looking so the bright and colorful pictures.
What a sweet tradition and such a great habit to form at an early age!
I love that today we are using more meditation techniques with children. A lot of times it’s just a simple wind down method that children need for their transition to sleep. Great tips thank you for sharing ❤
Yes, it can be a really simple routine to help them unwind! Thanks for stopping by 🙂