How to help your child to sleep through on Christmas Eve
It may seem there is a social expectation that your child is okay not to sleep through on Christmas Eve. Especially if your child is older and understands the concept of Christmas and Santa.
However, if you have a sensitive and spirited child who tends to sleep less when new and exciting events take place, then it may pay to think about what you can do to minimise the disruption to their sleep ahead of time. You may find when your child’s sleep is worse their behaviour also deteriorates, therefore it is important to consider the impact this may have on your Christmas day.
You maybe reading this and thinking ‘But not sleeping through is part of the magic of Father Christmas or Santa visiting’. I say “Is that true”? The question arises, does sleeping through the night actually make Christmas less magical? Or take anything away from your child’s Christmas?
There is a big difference between sleeping through the night as a child and waking early because you are so excited to see if he has been. Compared to waking all the way through the night and waking early, which leaves you as their parent feeling exhausted, empty and fed up on Christmas Day. Not only that, they are also more overwhelmed, emotional, potentially grumpy and find it difficult to manage their emotions.
Here are my four key tips on how to avoid frequent night wakings on Christmas Eve
Physical exertion
Children under the age of 5 are recommended to be physically exerted for a minimum of 3 hours a day. It is key for a child’s sleep that they are physically tired enough. Consider making your Christmas Eve an active one. For example, go for a long walk as a family, visit a local play park, if you are a member at a gym with a swimming pool then take your children swimming. The more active the better.
Low Key Christmas
We have been socially conditioned to overcompensate when it comes to Christmas and our children. We are currently undoing this social expectation in our household. For children who are spirited and sensitive, the excitement and the emotions around Christmas can be too much to deal with.
Especially for children who are more settled when their days are the same. For example, we are giving our children presents towards the lead up to Christmas day and explaining that Father Christmas will bring one present on Christmas Day itself. We tend to leave clues of Father Christmas having visited for the children to discover on Christmas Day morning, so that bedtime is mostly the same as normal yet they still experience the magic. Remember you can make your own Christmas traditions and don’t need to do the same as the majority.
Routines
Whether you stick to the usual time of bedtime is totally personal choice. There is no right or wrong. If your child already struggles at bedtime, as a very first step I would start to make bedtime the same time every night between now and Christmas Eve. If your child falls asleep easily already by making bedtime the same time every night, decide whether you wish to stick to this or not. If you also have older children who can stay up later and you still wish for an easier ride at bedtime, consider how you can make Christmas Eve magical at home so that your younger children can still go to bed at their usual time.
Self Regulation
Christmas time isn’t just an overwhelming time for children, but it can be for adults too. For some Christmas maybe a really triggering time of year, or even having the massive to do list can be stressful enough. If you are experiencing emotions yourself such as; anxiety, adrenaline, over excitement, overwhelm, frustration, it is only natural that these are passed onto your children. This can make it difficult for your children to unwind, fall and stay asleep. Of course, experiencing all of these emotions is normal and healthy. Although to help with the intensity, you may find it useful to use strategies such as slow deep breathing, mindfulness mediation, Emotional Freedom Technique as well as making sure you have time out to yourself.
There are my 4 key tips on how to avoid frequent night wakings on Christmas Eve. I hope you have a restful night.
