What bedtime toys (or products) do your children use to help them sleep?

Question

My 4 year old son is having sleeping problems. If anyone can share what their children use during bedtime to help them sleep, it would be very nice to know. Any suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks..!

Answer 1

My son has stuffed toys and a night light, and a before bed time story and sometiems a back rub. these help him relax. But I also took something off my shelf and put it on the table next to him to him. its a cow shaped candle for my son but it could be anything. I felt this helped because its something that is mine, so he has it in his room, its something I normaly wouldn't give him so he feels its an mportant item, and he feels its special. It helps him realize I gave him something so important to me because Its important for him to sleep in his room.

Other things you could try though would be to play quiet music or an audio book, let the child have a flashlight, or let him play with some of his toys in his bed (he might fall asleep playing with them) or if he is afraid of monsters a lot of parents suggest that you give the kids a spray bottle of wter and label it "monster destroyer" or somethign so they can shoot the monsters when they are scared.

Answer 2

Is the problem going to sleep or staying asleep? In either case his imagination may be getting the better of him. My 3 yr old is now seeing "ghosts" in dark rooms and states she is afraid of more things.

For the little ones we have a routine of getting PJ's on, brush teeth and then read 2-3 small books, then each goes into their bed (they share a room for now) with their favorite stuffy. Me or my husband stay up there for 5-10 min and then come down stairs. To cancel other household noises in the winter we run a humidifier in their room and in the summer a fan.

If there is trouble staying asleep try to rule out sleep habits as part of the problem - not napping, going to bed too late, napping at the wrong times, or being over stimulated during the day can cause night waking. If you have been changing his schedule quicker than once (maybe twice) in a week, that could set him off. There is nothing toddlers like more than routine.

With our eldest, when he was about 4 he started worrying about 'bad men' (911 recently happened). We set up guards of stuffed animals at his door and window and did a 'sweep' of his room after brushing and before stories.

Hope some of this helps!

Answer 3

I don't have a child the same age, but I hope I can help..Does your son have a special object that he takes to bed with him? Does he have a routine?? One thing I've heard to get kids to sleep is to tire them out during the day. Is your son taking naps? They could be cut out as well to help him sleep..
Now, onto the sleep issue...Has anything changed within the past 2 wks /month to your child? a move, some stress (ie fight btween you parents, starting preschool..etc..? if so then there might be an issue.. If not, just stay with a routine, and let him know that it is bed time and do whatever you normally do.
Hope I've helped!

Answer 4

We follow a strict routine: Dinner, play, bath, read books then off to bed at 8pm. It's always the same. Occasionally our kids have trouble falling asleep, but it's usually with a growth spurt or when they acquire a new skill that has them excited.

I also put on my pajamas when they do, so they don't think they're going to miss out on anything exciting after they go to bed. When they are out of the bath and in pajamas I put mine on. It signals bedtime for everyone, I think.

If he is taking naps he's going to want to stay awake later, and if he's sleeping in most mornings he'll start wanting to stay up later, too. Maybe you could try getting him up half an hour earlier, no naps and then see if he'll go down at his appointed bedtime.

Whatever ends up helping, I wish you the best of luck! I know how hard it is when they're not sleeping, poor Mommy ends up worrying and not sleeping, too! Take care.

Answer 5

A nightly routine really helps. And keep it simple and quiet. Nothing loud or stimulating for the 2 hours or so before bedtime. Maybe some lullaby music playing softly or a dim nitelite too.

Answer 6

use a really comfy pillow, my baby cousin has a really comfy one and it helps her go to sleep. she has a blankie. does ur son have something he loves like a blanket or a teddy bear. it maybe either to dark or to light. my cousin has a teddy bear which has a string in the back which u pull and it plays a lullaby. she has someone to sleep with her and when she falls asleep they leave her to sleep in peace. this might not help as much because my cousin is 2 years old and sometimes it depends on what distracts the baby and how comfortable he is.

Answer 7

My son listens to "Sweet Dreams: Baby's First Classics" each time he is in bed. It helps him to soothe himself back to sleep if he does wake up. He also get to make choices like what stuffed animal he wants to sleep with, if he wants to cover up, if he wants the sheet or blanket, etc. It helps him to feel more in control over bedtime.

Answer 8

Our twins are 10 months previous. they have slept for the duration of the night for the main section (we've had some boost spurts and teething that disrupted sleep varieties) provided that approximately 3 months previous. we don't co-sleep - there are 2 of them and that they do nicely of their cribs. each and every often times if one is ill or up early in the morning, we are able to convey them into mattress to snuggle yet we don't quite co-sleep. perfect needs!

Answer 9

Could be the dark, maybe try a night light. I wouldnt recommend toys bc it could keep your child distracted.