A child who sleeps well is a happier child. Between the ages of 6 and 12, children need about 9 to 11 hours of sleep. Teaching them to sleep fast is a break for them, and for you too. As with babies, a child's dream is not a mathematical question, therefore, no method gives exact solutions. They are application guidelines that common sense will then make you adapt to your own case.
If a child learned to sleep well as a baby it is easier for him to continue this habit as he grows. Nevertheless there will be days of wakefulness, or in those who are more restless or nervous, but the ideal is to try to be the least, or have the tools to deal with them.
Teach children to sleep fast with the gradual technique
Gradual withdrawal is a technique in which you wait with the child until he gets to sleep quickly. At first you wait lying or sitting on your bed, then a little further, each day you move the chair a little apart, until in a last step, you stay on the door lintel, or leave the room.
Each position is held for 3-4 days. Depending on the boy or girl, it will take more or less, and you will do this process in more or fewer steps. The last position, the one that is outside the room but in the child's sight is the one that costs the most and almost always has to be held a little longer, about 7-10 days.
It is important to make sure that the child is asleep before leaving. If he catches you leaving the room, you will have to wait again for him to fall asleep. The advantage of this method is that it is very gentle for the child and for the mothers, but on the contrary, it is a slow technique that requires some patience.
Follow a routine, the best
Follow one routine is the best way that the child gets to sleep fast. It is important to go to bed at the same time every night. You should even keep that time on weekends.
We advise you to start the routine 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. In this period of time, the child's body and mind will be predisposed to rest. Many families have a habit of giving their children a hot bath before going to bed. This can be the first part of the routine. It is not necessary to be soaked for 20 minutes or in the shower, it will be enough with 5 or 10 minutes.
She uses the daily routine of going to the bathroom, brushing her teeth, there are girls who also like to brush their hair. It important is that every day do the same, so that when you get to bed there is nothing left to do. There are children who like to read for a while in bed, or write a journal, let them do it. This is part of their routines and they are necessary for them to sleep fast.
Relaxation techniques that help you sleep fast
Children can teach different relaxation techniques to help them sleep fast. One of them is the countdown from 100. You ask him to lie down on the bed and start the countdown.
Another technique is practice deep breathing. Tell him to lie on his back, to make him more comfortable you can place a cushion under your knees, then ask him to place his hands on his stomach with the palms facing down. Teach him to feel his belly rise and fall with each deep, slow breath towards your belly. Little by little the child will get used to it, if he is older you can teach him to count the inspiration and exhalation, but the important thing is that he relaxes.
There are children who it relaxes have some white music or sounds in the room. The same goes for the lights, you can keep a small lamp lit in the room, not on the bedside table. These are all ways of calling the dream.