Mumsnet users share with Moonlite how they get their child relaxed before bedtime

[EllieMumsnet]

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As parents, it’s almost a right of passage to have at least a few nights where your child just won’t settle down for bed. They’re either still a little hyper from the day’s events, they don’t feel like sleeping or they’re just restless. That’s why Moonlite would love to know how you get your child to relax and calm down before bedtime.

Here’s what Moonlite have to say: “Moonlite makes bedtime stories come to life, with full HD story images and in-app sound effects to make the reading experience immersive and magical for children. Feed and fuel children's imaginations and bring back the love of reading through a creative, immersive storytelling and bonding experience.”

Watch this video all about how the Moonlite Storytime Projector can help you at bedtime:

Is it a classic bedtime story coupled with cosying up in bed that does the trick? Perhaps you find having quiet music playing in the background helps them calm down and feel sleepy? Do you try to get them into the same bedtime routine every night so they know when it’s time to wind down? Have you managed to find the blackest of black-out blinds? Or maybe a nice relaxing bath and getting into their cosy PJs tends to help?

However you get your child to relax before bedtime, post on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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We make sure we have no screen time before bed. It has always been the traditional dinner, bath, story bed and my oldest is now 10. They also either have music or a story to listen to and fall asleep to. Along with me reading to them, they read to me and we easily fill an hour with that. It is important to have the time to have this routine in a relaxed way, cuddles, talking and it has always worked. All three sleep well andI think it is down to routine.

Nice warm bath, cuddles in bed and a book. My eldest has a comfort blanket and the youngest just likes to cuddle her toys

We cuddle up and read books

Last feed of the night for 8 month old Oscar in a darker room with no distractions, then into his sleeping bag - trying to make sure he knows it's associated with bedtime!

A story and a cuddle!

Our two year old has a warm bath, followed by a beaker of milk whilst we read him a story. At the moment, he loves 'Guess How Much I Love You' and tells us that he loves us "to the moon and back" - just like the nutbrown hares in the book. He tries to draw out bedtime by requesting multiple stories, but we tend to limit it to three books max, as we also have a five month old and bedtime is very busy.
Our baby has a warm bath and then I nurse him to sleep with some white noise to help him relax.

i have four kids and all of them are different. i just have to work through the plan and see what works best for each of them but it doesnt vary that much.

always make sure they had sufficient dinner and not go to bed hungry.
bath if possible as its not always possible. but bath does help them to relax. for younger children, it works very well with a bath before bedtime and reading story to round it off.
reading to them is relaxing and they always look forward to it and as they get older they read by themsellves
talk about their day and especially helps if something is bothering them and it tends to come out at bedtime with tantrum or being upset.
most importantly, the child needs a routine eg dinner, bath, specific bedtimes, reading etc
Best have a dark room and dont let them get out of bed.
always sleep in their own bed their own room unless there are nightmares, then go to their bed but stay with them till they sleep so they feel secure and safe.
ensure they already gone to toilet before bedtime and not to forget to brush teeth.
Do not play and tickle etc as this tend to get them all hyper and excited and not tone down for bedtime.
peace and quiet and if afraid of dark, perhaps a night light and slowly phase off to darkness and in summer use blackout windows.

I think routine is key and a routine that includes a gradual wind down. It's unrealistic to expect children to suddenly shift gear. Baths, stories and just talking about the day all help. Dim lights too if possible.

Stick to the same routine - bath, cuddle and a book then bed.

Always a warm glass of milk, works every single time!

If all else fails I give my 6 year old son a foot rub. It never fails!

Our countdown to bedtime is a nice warm bath, a few biscuits with a warm drink, 10 minutes cuddle time then into bed .We have a story ending with kisses and that works for me

Calmness from tea time onwards! No computer games or anything like that! Slow story time and snuggling!

We always have warm milk and read a story and then I found some wonderful cds on Amazon for children with sleep meditations on them. Guided visualisations help your child wind down mentally into sleep, they work like magic!

A bath and a book! x

I have always read to mine. I think that is the perfect way to relax them at the end of the day and help them wind down. Also in winter a mug of hot chocolate always does the trick.

Sing song and reading a book!

We always stick to the same routine at around the same time, always ending in storytime. They are old enough to read themselves now but there is something soothing about reading to them that makes them drift off.

We have a quite time 1.5 hours before bed where they only allowed books or craft like colouring or a story cd, no rough paly no technology . They have a bath then i read to them then i tuck them in and they go off to sleep.

having a routine is important, bath and story and then lights out. I have found the only issues we had was having DCs of varying age groups, differing bedtimes etc

4 and 1 year old ... bath every other day (ish), stories, very brief (

A routine is really helpful in winding down in an unrushed way- a warm bath and then cuddled up to read a bedtime story has always been part if our evening.
It usually works, but our son is 3 and there are some nights where he doesn't settle right away. He doesn't make a fuss, but we can hear him chatting or singing to himself! Usually it's enough to pop in and reassure him, and check he doesn't need the loo, but if it's been a while and he really can't get to sleep we'll give him a small drink of milk or occasionally he'll be allowed to come in our bed for a cuddle and a last story.

I find a mixture of things works: lots of reminders that bedtime will be approaching in [x] hours, regular routine, bath or shower, PJs on quite early, reading, cuddles. It works for us.

A warm bath, pj's, teeth cleaned and a story before bed - I also spritz the room with a lavender spray, we try to keep to the same routine as much as possible

Bedtime reading and a bath before bedtime seems to do the trick. Also stick to a bedtime routine and time, so they know when it is bedtime and they able to go to sleep more easily.