If you’ve ever witnessed a child an hour or two before bedtime, you know things can get a little wild. They’re trying their best to stay awake — or as we say in my family, “fighting sleep.” They’ll try anything: running at top speeds, flinging their toys all around the house, and inevitably sustaining a slight injury before they finally realize they’re better off just going to sleep.
By the end of it all, you might be feeling like it’s your bedtime, too. It’s exhausting. Thankfully, one mom who also happens to be a professional occupational therapy assistant, has some suggestions.
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Hannah is a mother of two who knows a thing or two about occupational therapy.
Hannah Sylcox is a certified occupational therapy assistant and mother of two. She uses her Instagram page to share tips, mom hacks, and discuss educational sensory play. One of her more popular videos shows how to get children to calm down before bedtime because in Hannah’s words, they’re “extra feral” when it’s time to sleep. The tips she offered help regulate a child’s sensory system and can put them in a more relaxed and calm state.
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Burrito Roll
Remember how your newborn loved to be swaddled when they first came home? Apparently, just because children outgrow that stage, it doesn’t mean the swaddle is no longer effective. But as they get older, you should engage your child in the process and give it a cool name.
Hannah suggests having your child lie on their back on top of the end of the blanket, leaving their head out. Then roll them across the floor like a burrito. “This provides deep proprioceptive input into the child's body. This is calming and organizing to their sensory systems,” Hannah writes.
Pillow Squishes
This next one you can do while they’re still in the burrito wrap. If your child gets a little claustrophobic, just remove the wrap, and have them lie on their stomach. Then, take a pillow and gently press down on their body with it.
“This activity provides deep pressure which brings your nervous systems into more of a balanced response/balanced state of arousal,” Hannah writes. “This calms and organizes the sensory systems as well.”
Exercise Ball Rocking
If you have an exercise or yoga ball at home, your kids can utilize this to calm their systems as well. Place them on their stomach, hold them in place and gently rock them back and forth in a slow rhythmic motion. That same ball that can be used for bouncing suddenly becomes very soothing. Hannah says the repetitive motion “provides calming vestibular input” to the nervous system, helping children relax.
Warmth
Nothing like being cozy and toasty. Hannah recommends placing blankets and stuffed animals they sleep with in the dryer a few minutes before you place them in bed. The warmth helps to put their minds in a calm and relaxed state. It's also provides another cue that it really is time to go night-night.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
