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

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

I sing DS1(11) his song. It evolved over many years and has been in its current form since he was about 7. I didn't think I'd still be doing it at this age, but it has been really useful as he will talk about anything bothering him at this time.

Singing, lots of cuddles and a familiar routine of dinner, getting changed into pyjamas, brushing teeth, story, then bed.

Mine are twins under 2, so its usually quiet playtime after dinner, bath, bottle of milk and then up to bed for a story (or 3!) Before they go to sleep in their cots, tucked up with a soft toy. I love bedtime, when they're all cuddly and sleepy. I like the idea of the projector but I wouldn't use it at bedtime as I wouldn't want technology getting in the way of the bedtime books.

I read a story they've chosen, then we have a little chat about the day, a hug, a song then sleep. Some days it works better than others!

we dim the lights and look at books. he also still has a drink of milk before bed.

X

X

No screen time in the hour before bedtime. Story and a cuddle and we are chilled out and ready to sleep. Keeping to a similar routine every night I find that the consistency helps.

Pyjamas and book in bed, sometimes put relaxing music on which helps.

We tidy away all toys for a calmer space, followed by bath-time, pjs, snuggles, stories and sleep.

Over the years the time between the different activities has decreased a lot so we now have a pretty good bedtime routine (most nights).

Calm down time at the end of the day. Is essential I've had to do it since dd1 was Little. Rigorous sticking to bedtime routines. Protected story time. Being focused on the kids last thing and giving lots of one to one and reading and cuddles. I still sit with dd2 she's only 5 and everyone deserves to feel safe and secure when they are 5!

I've not really changed the routine for my DDs since they were born (now 6 & 8) - usually bath, teeth, bed and a stories. As they are getting older, we might drop the occasional bath but always end the day with a book. Both also like to have a little light in their rooms and some music on to settle them down to sleep.

My children are now 11 and 16 but back when they were younger I always read to them to calm them down before bedtime. No TVs in their bedrooms until they are 13/14 is my rule! Probably because I didn’t have a tv in my bedroom growing up.
When they were babies they had mobiles above their cots that played calming music and once out of their cots sometimes music would still help to calm them before bed or daytime naps.
Now they’re older it’s a no phone/computer rule for an hour before bedtime so they’ll watch tv with us or read or draw.

The ever reliable - bath, pjs and a story in bed - it worked for me when I was little too.

We cuddle up and read every night for 15-30 minutes at bed time (DP and I take a child each) and then the eldest listens to an audio book for another 15 minutes.

DS is still tiny (3 month) but we start winding down with a bath which DH does, thenbi do massage, into sleepsuit and sleep bag, bit of quiet play time, then lights down, story, bottle and sing (usually "go to sleep my baby" or the song that I've made up for him), and then it's sleep for 8 hours. I put on a stars projector when we start singing so he can look at it if he hasn't fallen asleep when I put him down.

Bath, book and cuddles. My two are not much trouble going to bed by as babies was difficult.

Bath, bed, cuddles and a boring story read with a dull, monotonous voice. Firing up their imaginations is all well and good but that doesn't really soothe them to sleep.

Bath, bed and same last story every night read in my go to sleep voice...rhyming ones like The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson work best because of the rhythm. Then it's the music from the mobile they had as babies, we just don't have the mobile bit attached now they are older. I leave the room when the music starts.

For my six year old DS we have down time, about an hour before bedtime. Bath, something to eat and then cuddles with a story.

A lovely bath, tucked up with 2 stories.

We turn off TV one hour before bed - this really helps! Then have quiet play and stories before going up for his bath. After bathtime we cuddle with dim lights and do a bedtime bottle.

We try to stick to the same routine.

Bath, pjs, teeth brushed, story, bed.

Youngest is still breastfeeding so he usually likes to have a feed after his bath.

They all find screen time stimulating, so I can’t help but think that a bedtime story described as ”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” would be too exciting to help my children relax and calm down enough for sleep.

They’d probably enjoy that sort of thing earlier in the day though!

We tend to do bath, book then bed, seems to work :)

Having a good routine and sticking to it, having black out curtains and reading for 10 minutes to them before lights out. Allowing them to choose which cuddly toy they sleep with that night. Generally it is to calm them make them feel secure and encourage them to relax and enjoy the sleep.