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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Warm bath, followed by a cuddle in bed whilst having a little chat about their day.

Bath and pyjamas on the radiator.

Then a story by me or on the speaker if I'm feeling shattered!

They are fantastic sleepers though and look forward to bedtime mostly.
Can't think where they get it from

We always have story then the same bedtime songs we've had since they were tiny, and dim lights with low level bedtime music playing on our old baby monitor. Even though they're well beyond baby monitor stage they find it soothing!

bath/no bath
Pjs
brush teeth
read a story (youngest is still on picture books older 2 are on chapter books)
youngest has milk and cuddle and goes to bed
older have a kiss and cuddle and we say the same 'nun night sleep tight sweet dreams I love you see you in the morning'
turn off light
shut the door
give a sigh of relief
smile to self and he proud we got through another day
grimace to self at thought of doing the dishes.

We got backlit kindles about 3 years ago. It has been the best investment ever. Kids all to bed at 7.30 to read. Gives myself and my husband some downtime. Kids are now 12/10/10

Blackout blind down, then a bath, milk and a story with their mobile on projecting images onto the ceiling and their white noise sheep on in the background. Often DTD will 'chat' or sing to each other for a while after I've left the room before falling asleep.

That they aren’t hungry & have chill time before going up to bed. Story in bed whilst having a cuddle with mum or dad & a drink of milk.

Routine routine routine.

Pjs, milk, teeth, story, bed

We have blanket and boring tv time for 20 minutes before bed (usually cookery programmes), when we get to snuggle. When dd's in bed I play rain sounds on my phone, and she goes straight off. She's never asked why it rains every night!

Before bedtime kids will have downtime where they sit quietly, relax and calm down. They will have a glass of milk and have story time. This usually tends to send them straight to sleep!

Bath, book and bed (but in a room with blackout blinds)

Depends on the age my baby has a bath, massage, breastfeed and story.
3 year old has a bath and then a story.
Older 2 (7&8) have a bath and then read to themselves.

I have a baby, 5yr old and 9yr old and they have the same routine. We have wind down time, no tv or screens. Bath, bedtime story (which I usually make up), and cuddles. They have lined curtains to keep the light out, and all go to bed at the same time, save arguments over anyone of them still being up.

My children are older now (8 and 11) and read quietly in bed before going to sleep. DD 8 often plays the piano just before bed as she finds it relaxing.
When DS was a baby he would only go to sleep if ‘Blue pooh’ was playing- ie a blue projection light with Winnie the Pooh pictures and music. He loved it...so did we!!

Mine are 9 and 7 but still really enjoy a story after they've cleaned their teeth. Now we've gone beyond short books it's usually a chapter of something like Harry Pottery or Artemis Fowl.

bath and bedtime story

From a very young age DD liked to listen to music to go to sleep, so initally it was a winnie the pooh bedtime toy, then it became In The Night Garden CD, followed by Peppa Pig CD. Now she listens to music on her ipad while she falls alseep.

We also had projection lights as she found them calming. When she was younger I also read to her every night.

Reading stories, making a puzzle, making a relaxing massage and playing some peek-a-boo games in the bed while changing clothes, bath time, warm milk with a bit of honey 30 min before sleep, singing songs. My daughter is almost 3.

A warm bath, warm milk, lavender oil in the humidifier, a gentle massage, cosy PJ's and a cuddle with a good story and favorite soft toys -mummy and baby Kangaroo!

We always read to the children before bed when they were younger, now they’re ‘too old’ (their words!) they either read to us or we just have a little chat about the day, have a cuddle and sit quietly with them for a minute or two. My youngest son has autism and doesn’t like stories before bed - he likes milk from mummy and for daddy to lie with him until he falls asleep.

Bath and story is the standard routine here, with no messing tolerated after that (or at least we try...)

He reads for a little while and then does uses a app to follow a sleepy time meditation designed for children - works every time and makes bedtime stress free

I get my children to have a bath, change into their night clothes. Read a book to them and put a colour changing lamp on to help them relax and fall asleep.

Toddler - we read a story on the potty or toilet, clean our teeth, put on pjs then snuggle down in bed for another story, then tuck in with 3 particular teddies and say a special bedtime rhyme.

10yo - puts himself to bed but still reads in bed every night, in fact he can't sleep if he hasn't read for at least 10mins.

We have a relaxing bath before a book and cuddle time in our big bed.