So ever since my 4 year old came into my life, my goal was to introduce her to sleeping through the night. The biggest reason being I enjoy my sleep. I cannot tell you how many times people are down right amazed that both my girls are asleep by 7pm. Well, the older one for sure by 7:30. So, who wants to know how this is done!

The first thing I want you to realize is that if getting your children to bed early is a goal for you then you might have to sacrifice other areas in your life. I cannot even begin to tell you how many things we say no to because it interferes with bedtime. We don’t do evening activities or go out with our kids late. If I take them out to eat, it is early.

In our house, we eat dinner at 5:00 pm, bath time at 6pm, put the youngest in by 6:30 and older one by 7pm. That means everyday, weekends, vacations and even summer.  Yes, I have made the mistake of letting them stay up late and it always reminds me the next day how my girls need their sleep.

I know that when I leave their rooms and say, “I love you and see you in the morning,” that I mean it and so do they.

Here are some guidelines:

• Have a routine is a must such as bath, book, bottle or breast milk, then bed. This has been the routine since day one.
• We always go into their rooms if there is a problem during the night.
• Since birth, our girls have slept in their own rooms, it works for us and for them.
• Wait about 30 minutes to get them in the morning. Get them used to staying in their rooms from a young age.
• If you are breast feeding, cluster feed and slow down your feedings at night. Yes, I nursed both girls and it can be done.
• Include bargaining and avoidance into your routine. Pick how much you want to give them and let them learn how to push and you push back.
• Be consistent with all care givers, and yes that even includes grandparents.
• No guilt. You are a great parent for reading this and wanting to try something new.

All parenting is trial and error and if one thing does not work then try something else. As parents we need to lean on each other and work together to raise healthy, happy children.

Let me know if you have a method that works or does not work and as always ask questions! Happy parenting!