How do I get my kid to sleep in their own bed all night? Here are 11 quick parenting tips.

Sleep is the biggest concern and stressor for parents. Sleep is the foundation of your mood and energy. Unfortunately, many children don’t understand how precious sleep is for them and their parents. Every stage of sleep, from getting to sleep to waking up too early, can be filled with frustration, turning many parents into zombies the following day.

The first step is to figure out why your child is having trouble sleeping in bed all night. This takes some sleuthing, but chances are there’s a reason (or reasons) your child is having difficulty staying asleep in their bed all night. Is their room too bright? Is their room too dark? Are there too many toys in their room? Do they get too stimulated during the day? Do they get enough opportunity to burn energy? Are they getting enough to eat? Are they going through a developmental change? The possibilities are endless, but these are an excellent place to start. Don't lose sleep looking for the cause of your child’s sleepless nights. Start narrowing down what's working and not working in your favor.

1.

Install blackout curtains to darken your child’s room. This will also keep the sunlight out in the morning and help your child sleep longer.

2.

Put a night light in their room or right outside the hallway.

3.

Put away their toys. Toys might be too stimulating for your child. Try making their room as calm and peaceful as possible.

4.

Try adding white noise. Sometimes, children sleep better when a comforting, consistent noise lulls them to sleep. Various apps mix white noise from multiple sources, or you could go old school and just use a fan.

5.

Try playing some calming binaural beats. Binaural beats are tones that simulate different brainwaves. Depending on which binaural beat is playing, they cause the mind and body to relax or become more awake.

6.

Feed them foods that promote sleep. Foods that promote sleep include almonds, walnuts, cheese and crackers, tuna, and rice. A quick internet search will yield many more ideas.

7.

Make sure your child gets at least 30 minutes of sunlight a day. Sunlight helps us sleep and has many other health benefits.

8.

Make sure the temperature in your child’s room is comfortable. Some children like to be cool at night, and others want to be warm. Try both conditions to see which one your child likes best.

9.

Start the bedtime routine earlier. Your child might get too stimulated during the day and before bed. This stimulus makes it difficult for children to wind down enough to get to sleep and stay asleep. Turn off the TV and dim the lights about an hour before bed. Discourage rough-housing and other activities that could excite your child.

10.

Make sure your child gets enough opportunity to burn energy during the day. Don’t exhaust your child; encourage activities that let them get outside or move around.

11.

Reward your child when they achieve your wish using a universal wish list like Wishfinity. Use your mobile device to check off their sleep in their own bed each night. They earn a prize, and in a way, you do, too.