THE BEDTIME BATTLE

Do you have a child who finds bedtime as appealing as eating cold porridge? Fran Chavasse from Tresillian has some golden tips to take out the stress – for everyone!

1 NO SCREEN TIME FOR TWO HOURS BEFORE BED

“It’s not the TV that’s distracting, it’s the blue lights that TVS, tablets and any sort of device gives off. They’re stimulating bright lights that will disrupt your child’s sleep,” Fran explains. “As hard as it is, it’s a good idea to keep them away from devices, games consoles and any screen for at least one to two hours before bed if you can. Try not to have a TV in your child’s bedroom.”

2 NO CAFFEINATED FOOD OR DRINKS AFTER 12PM

“When we think of caffeine, we think of coffee, but you can find it in a lot of foods,” she says. “Caffeine is a stimulant so it’s very hard for a child to sleep after consuming it. Check labels, but it’s found in chocolate, puddings, cakes, energy drinks, fizzy drinks … limit it so if you give these to your child, it’s before lunch.”

3 HAVE A CLEAR BEDTIME AND STICK TO IT

“This is easier said than done in a busy household, but preschoolers are no different to us. Adults often go to bed at the same time most nights; we have a routine like taking off makeup, cleaning our teeth, reading a book, and preschoolers are no different to that. We all need some rituals and wind-down activities. This can be having a bath after dinner or reading a story, but try to keep it to the same activities at night. You’ll be surprised how it works.”