Nighty Night!

How many hours of sleep is your child getting? Failure to get enough sleep can lead to irritability, difficulty concentrating, and problems learning. Children under 3 years of age should sleep about 12 hours a night with a one hour nap during the day. Older children will sleep around 10 hours a night. I know it's sometimes easier to give in to unhealthy sleeping habits. Sleep deprivation can really wear you down, but the sooner you can establish healthy sleep patterns the better. Here are a few tips to remember:

- Activities leading up to bedtime should be calm and quiet.
- Establish a nightly bedtime routine so your child will know what to expect.
- Avoid using DVDs or the TV to help your child fall asleep.
- Dim the lights and any household noise to signal it is time for sleep.
- Try to help your child learn to self sooth and relax.

Don't forget to get your sleep too! (Not that I'm one to talk, particularly!)

One of my favourite nighttime rituals is one that I stole from our neighbours at the cabin (voices travel REALLY well over the water at night!). They were sitting outside on the porch before bed, and everyone had to share what their favourite part of the day was. I got the distinct impression that they did this every night. It seemed like a really great idea. Now my son and I whisper these to each other as I tuck him in.