STRATEGIES TO CALM YOUR CHILD'S ANXIETY AT NIGHT.

Imagine that you are just settling onto your couch with your remote in hand and ready to start watching the latest Movie thriller. You're just about to press play when you hear tiny feet padding towards the Living room.

“Mommy? I can't sleep. I'm scared!!”

This happens to most mums often because most children has struggled sleeping abilities due to nighttime fears for what feels like forever. And you've tried all the tricks you know, from setting up a regular routine, reassuring them nothing will happen, night lights, warm milk, laying down with them, etc. But none is working. What can you do? Here are some few ideas that can help.



PINPOINT WHAT THE FEAR IS

This is one of the most important things to do, if you don’t know what the fear is it will be difficult to combat it. Ask yourselves these questions: Is it fear of the dark? Is it a worry about something in the closet? Is it monsters? Is it spiders?



REARRANGE THE ROOM

Then your next bet is to rearrange the room because there may be particular spots of the room that seem to be darker or cause more fear at night than others? Go into the bedroom during the day with your child and talk about the spots that make your child nervous. Try moving night lights and furniture around for a more calming room arrangement.



READ A BOOK TO HELP CALM ANXIETY AT NIGHT

There are several children’s books that have characters that are afraid of the dark. Sometimes it helps kids to know they're not the only ones who get scared. Transitional objects too can also help, you could give them a stuffed teddy bear or a sweatshirt of yours just something that would make them think you’re still present even when you’re not there.



YOGA

Certain yoga poses are helpful for calming a body down and getting ready for rest at night. One of the favorites is to have your child lay down on their back with their legs perpendicular up against a wall. Have them put their arms out to their sides. Encourage them to do some deep breathing as they lay like this. If it’s possible, have them do this pose in their bed, so it’s easier to transition them to lying in bed for sleep.



BY SOPHIE AIGBOMIAN