Creating The Perfect Children’s Bedroom
Successfully getting a child to bed in a smooth and efficient manner can often feel like cause for celebration. As most parents know, children are prone to delay, whine, and protest at bedtime, ‘But mum, I don’t want to go to bed!’ they say. So, if you are one of those parents who struggles to get your child off to bed without counts to ten, two trips to the bathroom, five extra hugs, and three glasses of water, it is time to re-evaluate your overall bedtime strategy.
An ideal place to start is to take a fresh look at your child’s sleep environment. The physical space and the emotional environment you create for your child strongly influence their readiness to settle their body and mind for the night.
There are a number of different things which all contribute to getting a good night’s sleep, especially for children. Creating the perfect children’s sleep environment is one of the things which can improve the quality of sleep for a child.
Alongside a peaceful night-time routine and a good diet and exercise routine, this can help ensure your child is getting enough quality sleeping time. Sleep is essential for children; it is when they do the majority of growth and development and a lack of sleep can have a detrimental effect on their mood, concentration and health
Choosing the Perfect Bed
First things first, a dreamy sleep really should start with the bed. Get your child involved in the picking process. There are lots of different styles they can choose from, from toddler beds to theme beds, so there will definitely be a design that will suit both you and them. Also, make sure you buy a good quality mattress, that not only supports their growing bones, but is comfortable.
Bedding Choice
Whilst the bed is the foundation for a good night’s sleep, the bedding is pretty important too. The right bedding creates a comfortable and inviting environment for your youngster to lay their sleepy head. Again, allow them to have some involvement in their bedding choice, including any cushions and throws they may also want to add. The aim is to make their bed so good, that they are desperate to climb into it every day!
De-Clutter the Room
The classic idiom ‘tidy home, tidy mind’ applies to everyone, even small children. How can you expect your little one to have a restful night’s sleep if the room they are going to bed in is full of mess. Spend some time clearing through all their toys, clothes and books, and finding places for everything to live. You may want to invest in some extra storage to help with their masses of stuff.
Colour Palette
Whilst it may be tempting to go along with your child’s idea of a luminous pink bedroom, opting for more tranquil colours on the walls will help create a more peaceful and relaxing room. Blue is very calming, or you could try other relaxing shades such as greys, pastels and neutrals. Warm colours, such as pale yellows, also create a cosy environment. You can still let your child’s more adventurous choices loose within the accessories. These will add a splash of vibrant colour in the room, without turning it into a headache waiting to happen.
Colour Palette
Getting the lighting right in your kids bedroom will help create a relaxing environment. Blackout blinds will keep the light out, even during the dreaded summer months when convincing your child that it is bedtime despite the glaring sun outside is a lesson in patience. For children that find the dark a bit too scary, the soft glow of a night light can help to ease their worry and send them into a deep, dreamy sleep.
By creating an environment that is both inviting, comforting and relaxing for your child you will be encouraging their sleeping habits. Not only will it mean they are more willing to go to bed, which is usually a task in itself, but it will mean they feel happy and comforted when they are going to sleep; something which you shouldn’t underestimate when it comes to sleep.
