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What are your top tips for getting your child to sleep? Share with Hasbro’s new Moon and Me!

340 replies

YanaMumsnet · 22/07/2019 10:48

This activity is now closed.

Getting your DC to sleep can be a challenge worthy of an award. It can be especially difficult when your children change the way they respond to toys, songs, or any other sleep aids you have in your parental arsenal. To celebrate the launch of their new Moon and Me Toy range, Hasbro would like you to share your tips for how you succeed in getting your child to sleep or what has helped you manage your child’s sleeping habits in the past.

Here’s what Hasbro has to say about their Moon and Me toys:
“Our lovable new toy range features favourite characters from the magical world of Moon and Me. From figures and play-sets that are perfect for playtime to soft plush that little ones will love snuggling with at bedtime! “

What are your tips and tricks for getting your children to sleep? Have you worked out a magic routine, or do you have a favourite sleep toy? Do you rely on sleep songs or other comforters to help you? Does TV make up a part of your child’s sleep routine? Who has a bigger say in picking up a sleep toy - you or your children? Does your DC already have a preferred sleep aid?

Please share your tips for getting your child to sleep below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list) and a toy bundle from the new Moon and Me toy range.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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What are your top tips for getting your child to sleep? Share with Hasbro’s new Moon and Me!
OP posts:
emmagough78 · 12/08/2019 23:05

Ok, so my DD is now 3, bedtime has become very difficult, she won't let either myself or her Dad the leave the room without performing an array of tasks..e.g. rubbing her back, singing songs, reading stories over again, kisses, hugs, drinks, music - you name it...she wants it all at bedtime lol! but I've found a solution that might work for other mums, dads or care providers too. it's this: Most children have a favourite toy that they sleep with or if they haven't you can still do this. Let them do a bit of role play with their teddy / doll of choice. We get our DD to take her toy to the toilet, brush it's teeth and read it a bed time story whilst completing the tasks her self. When it's time to sleep, I say "what do you say to bunny now?" she say's "night night bunny it's sleep time" she snuggles in with bunny and lets me leave the room. I couldn't believe it! but giving her some responsiblity, even if it's her toy, everything is done on her terms and before she realised it, she had acutally put herself to bed. This has worked for the last few nights...fingers crossed it continues.

hannahlw85 · 12/08/2019 23:18

I find winding them down over the latter part of the day then a good bedtime routine, so bath then bed time stories, and making sure their room is the right temperature

CatCatDog · 12/08/2019 23:35

Bath then a story in bed. A cool, dark and quiet room helps!

Pandamodium · 13/08/2019 07:35

Routine it’s worked for the last 13 years and is still working now. Specific bedtimes per child differing weekday/weekends. Bath and wind down time, nap at certain time for the youngest.

Tigger83 · 13/08/2019 08:49

Time!! Sleep is a developmental stage like everything else!

Mums are put under so much pressure with regards to sleep when sometimes baby just isn't ready. My son woke every 45 mins for the first year of his life and I tried everything (apart from cc) in the end I just stuck to a strong routine and was patient with him now at 16months he sleeps through the night.

I'm so proud that I did it in a natural and sympathetic way to him.

user1496053440 · 13/08/2019 14:37

Keep to a routine but children also need regular exercise so they are actually tired when they go to bed. Getting them to run around the park or the garden in the day, helps them to be tired at night.

munchbunch12 · 13/08/2019 16:13

Reading a book they have chosen themself. When they were very little, just sitting and cuddling them quietly in a dimly lit room seemed to help get them ready for sleep.

ailsasheldon · 13/08/2019 18:55

We were lucky as all three of mine had favourite bears and sucked thumbs or fingers so no lost dummies. All of them love their beds and we have found back lit kindles a huge help to have some quiet time before they go to sleep.

MommaJP · 13/08/2019 21:08

We just stick to routine.
Shower / bath, then a story make sure he's got teddy & Freddo (both teddies)

Nicole1709 · 13/08/2019 21:10

My little one has a clock that shows the stars when she needs to sleep. She knows to get up once the clock shows sunshine.

PepsiLola · 13/08/2019 21:45

Routine!

When they are little, bath/book/bed. We use lavender scented bath products and use lamps rather than main light for story time.

I've always made sure their bed space is not overwhelmed, they have a comfort teddy but not several. No toys/distractions.

Luckily both my children are really good at bedtime now, making up for the fact they didn't sleep as newborns 😂

Flamingo84 · 13/08/2019 21:56

Finding a routine and sticking to it really works. But you also have to let them lead a bit I think, if it’s not working, adapt.

DS has always loved his sleep and I moved him into his own room at 5 1/2 months. He was getting restless in our room because all our sleep sounds were disturbing him. He slept straight through the first night in his room (I tried not to be offended that he clearly didn’t miss me!).

From the first night he came home from the hospital we had white noise playing as he slept. Then as he got to about 6 months and had a bedtime, we did dinner, bath, story, bottle and bed. The music plays while he has his bottle and then it’s off to sleep.

As he’s got older (he’s one now) the time has changed from 7pm to closer to 8pm as he was fighting sleep, crying and getting worked up. This led to all of us being frazzled so we pushed it back a bit and he’s dropping right off which is much nicer for all concerned. Grin

buckley1983 · 13/08/2019 23:48

A good bedtime routine is essential.. certainly for our LO anyway!
We try to start winding down around 6pm - some quiet, relaxed games followed by a bath with some gorgeous smelling bedtime bath bubbles. After bath - it's into PJs, brush teeth & then snuggling into bed with a story (or 5!) - if he's still wide awake, he'll listen to a story CD - but he usually just snuggles down & dozes off.
If only it were that easy when he was a baby!!! :)

SassyandClassy · 14/08/2019 10:04

Just keep them active all day and then when it is bedtime then give them a bath, blankets, a nice song and warm milk.
They'll feel so comfortable that they will just nod off.

Bellroyd · 14/08/2019 15:13

Have a wind-down routine to prepare him/her for sleep but make sure you get plenty of physical play in during the day. It does it for me.

Oh - and NO technology in the bedroom!

Sugarhouse · 14/08/2019 19:44

I get him ready for bed and give him his milk and clean his teeth then into his cot with his favourite blanket and comfort bunnies where I read him a story in the dark. I then give him kisses and cuddles and leave the room but leave the door wide open and landing light on so it’s not too dark. I find not shutting the door on him really helps him not to get upset. However I honestly think every child is different and what works for one won’t for another.

KittyKat88 · 14/08/2019 23:08

I've always had a routine for my 2 DDs. Even though they're Primary age now they still get a bath and story before bed. I also usually leave Fun Kids on their radios to help settle them to sleep. Works a trick every night.

Aussiesaff · 15/08/2019 08:37

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custardcream1000 · 15/08/2019 18:18

DS1 was a breeze to get to sleep and would drift off without any fuss after a bath and a story.

DS2 only started to sleep through the night at the age of 5, which was exhausting.

DS3 (25 months) used to be a good sleeper, but now refuses to sleep and wakes through the night. I'm hoping I can find some good tips in this thread.

Rachel1874 · 15/08/2019 18:29

We have bath, then milk, then dinner, then story time, and cuddle to sleep. We used to have to have a bottle to sleep but we are eating enough now he doesn't want another bottle. Then once asleep I put him in his sleepbag and down in his cot.

sjonlegs · 15/08/2019 19:18

My son has profound medical and complex special needs and he responds really well to sensory stimuli. He has a lava lamp a bubble lamp and a light show on the ceiling with soothing music. His set-up is really sleep-inducing .. but I think something to snuggle would be nice too.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 15/08/2019 20:00

A cup of milk, book, then a cuddle and soft lighting and music. Still takes about a hour though :/

YouDancin · 15/08/2019 21:29

Routine was and is everything.

Fi1982 · 16/08/2019 12:59

We have a strict routine - two bedtime songs, then on the bed for a cuddle and bottle with her musical bear which players lullabies and emits a small glow. As we leave, we tell her mummy or daddy will be there when she wakes up... and that’s it! Works 7 time out of 10 😁

PomDeNlume · 16/08/2019 17:13

Following my toddler's lead as to when he is tired works for us - we tried to "force" an earlier bedtime but he has just always been a bit of a night owl. When he is tired he gets his vitamins and teeth brushed, then a story and cuddle before falling asleep. Works for now!