Mom Hacks To Calm Your Wild Kids Down Before Bed
Kids have a hard time calming down for the night but there are some mom hacks to help your wild kids chill out before bed.
Does your child get quiet and calm when they’re tired, then gently drift off to sleep? Some parents are that lucky, but this is for the moms and dads of kids who instead of winding down, actually wind up at bedtime. If your child becomes downright feral just before it’s time for bed, we feel your pain and have ideas that can help.
In our house we try to wined down after dinner but it doesn’t always happen that way and my six year old had a hard time sleeping in his room by himself in general so I need to wear him out a little to ensure he sleeps through the night. Plus my 3 year old just transferred to a “big boy bed” and we’ve had. to cut his nap so that he is exhausted at the end of the day too.
Acording to Scary Mommy, mom and occupational therapist assistant Hannah Sylcox gets it because she has kids like this. She shares occupational therapy sensory calming sleep tips that can help wrangle your wild things into bed.
- Exercise ball rocking – Remember how your baby would settle down as you gently rocked them in your arms or put them in a swing? You can use an exercise ball to let them lay over to get the same effect. “Repetitive, rhythmic rocking, swaying and swinging provide calming vestibular input into the nervous system, helping children relax,” Sylcox shares. You could also invest in a sensory swing that provides a similar effect.
- Make a toddler burrito – Use a blanket to roll your kids up into a snug little burrito, like you used to swaddle them as infants. “It provides deep proprioceptive input into your child’s body,” Sylcox explains. “This is calming and organizing to their sensory systems.” It’s ideal for kiddo that are too big to swaddle and too small to safely sleep with a weighted blanket.
- Pillow squishies – After your burrito is happily rolled up and snuggled in, Sylcox recommends using a couch cushion to gently apply pressure down the length of your kid’s body. She starts at the head, works her way down to their toes and gives this cushy, kid massage to their front and their back. “This provides deep pressure, which brings your nervous system into more of a balanced response,” our expert says. “This calms and organizes the sensory system as well.”
- Warmth – If your kid loves being warm and cozy, try sticking their blankies in the dryer for a few minutes before bed. According to Sylcox, “The warmth from their sleeping blankets signals bedtime and puts their minds in a state of calm and relaxation.”
Source: Scary Mommy
