A good night’s sleep is so important for the health and wellbeing of your child; however, many children struggle with sleep for a range of reasons. The atmosphere of their bedroom could potentially be the problem. One way you can help your child enjoy a smooth slumber is to ensure that their bedroom is a safe and peaceful place to be.
Inspired to make some changes? Here are 5 ways you can make your child’s bedroom the perfect space to enjoy the deep, restorative sleep they need.
1. Store away distractions.
Children can be easily stimulated, but when bedtime comes their focus needs to be on sleep. Store any toys that have the potential to distract them. This especially applies to electronic devices such as televisions, video games, or tablets. Buy a box or find a drawer or cupboard where items can be packed away.
Bear in mind that your child’s bedroom should have enough storage space, in general, to be tidily organised. You might not think this has an impact, but it can! Think about how much more peaceful you feel in a tidy room compared to a cluttered one. Children are often similarly affected -- whether they recognise it or not!
2. Make calming lighting choices.
Naturally, children go to bed earlier than their parents. During the lighter months, it may not even be dark when they go to bed – and this can make it difficult for children to sleep because it affects the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. In this situation, blackout curtains can be useful.
Some children find it hard to sleep because they are afraid of the dark. A dimmer switch might help them to transition from bright light to the dark required for a good night’s sleep. You might also choose to buy them an attractive nightlight to reassure them for as long as they have this fear.
3. Buy a bed your child is excited to get into.
If your child resists at bedtime, try to make the prospect of bed more exciting. Involve them in the process of choosing their own bed, if possible. Being allowed to express some agency over their bed can help them to feel more confident and positive about spending time in it.
There are many fun styles available for both boys beds and girls beds. If your child is struggling to settle in their bed, a change of environment might be what’s required to help them dream in peace.
4. Be conscious of colour scheme.
Colour has been proven to have a psychological impact, so it’s worth paying attention to the shades present in your child’s bedroom. Younger children are more sensitive than most to the effects of colour, and they respond better to light tones than dark ones.
You might be tempted to decorate your child’s room in bold, vibrant shades that are playful and fun, but these aren’t the colours that are most conducive to a good night’s sleep. Soft and faded colours should be considered your friends when trying to create a tranquil atmosphere for your child.
5. Keep your child’s bedroom cosy.
Your child’s bedroom needs to first and foremost be a soft, comfortable place that they can escape to – especially when it comes to the bed itself. Make sure their mattress is fit for purpose and that they have sufficient bedding in fabrics suitable for a child’s sensitive skin.
It’s important to get the temperature of your child’s bedroom right. If it’s too hot or too cold, this could impair a good night’s sleep. Stock their bedroom with extra blankets and pillows so they can make their own adjustments according to their comfort level.
Once you’ve made these 5 changes to your child’s bedroom, they should hopefully begin to sleep better. There are other factors you can consider if they continue to struggle at bedtime, though. Since sleep is a sensory experience, think about how sounds and smells might support a good night’s sleep.
Some people say that lavender is a soothing smell before bed. Others swear by sleep stories or nature soundtracks such as whale songs and rainfall. What helps us sleep is very personal, so you may need to pursue trial and error to discover what works best for your child.
Making their bedroom a peaceful place is a great start. A soothing bedroom undoubtedly makes a huge difference to a child’s sleep patterns, alongside their bedtime routine.