From infancy on, winding down the day with a bedtime story is a favorite way for kids to fall asleep. Lest you grow weary of reading the same book again and again and again, we've rounded up seven favorite books about bedtime to read before your kids go to sleep. Check out our ideas of books to add to your little one's library, from the beloved Goodnight Moon to some options you may not be familiar with. Sweet dreams!
When kids hit the teen years, many moms start worrying about curfews. When should teens go to bed? When should they be home for the night? What are the consequences of not following through? But the biggest question of all is: how do you decide what's appropriate? Circle of Moms members say to some degree it depends on your child, but there are still key dos and don'ts to guide you when setting your teen's curfews.
Time to change those clocks again — tomorrow morning, at 2:00 a.m., daylight saving time begins. If you're in the US (with the exception of Hawaii and Arizona), that means you'll move your clocks ahead one hour. And while losing an hour of sleep is never fun, gaining an extra hour of light at the end of the day is a welcome change. Here, five ways to help your kids adjust to daylight saving time (and enjoy their extra hour of playtime!)
Baby, it's starting to get cold outside! Surprise your kiddos by swapping out their usual sheets with one of these cozy flannel sets, and you'll be the most popular parent on the block. Since a warm and comfy little one is likely to mean a good night's sleep for all, we think that flannel sheets are well worth the investment. Here are eight great options for little guys and gals — from supersweet to simple and sophisticated.
Sharing a cuddle and a good book is the best way to end the day with your toddler, making these books must haves for your bedtime routine. Some of these classics may already be in your collection, but we've also included a few that may be unfamiliar. Reading to your child encourages language development, stimulates your tot's imagination, and gives mom and little one a chance to unwind together. Click through for a collection of bedtime books for toddlers. Did we miss your favorite? Leave a comment with yours below.
Who's afraid of the dark? Not your tot — with these seriously cool night lights! She'll be comforted in the soft glow of her own little light while drifting off to dreamland. Everyone knows a good night light keeps pesky monsters away the whole night through, so any of these would make a great addition to your child's room. Click though this collection of seriously cool night lights, including high-design animal shapes and even solar glowers!
If you and your lil one struggle with bedtime, rest assured that you're not the only ones. Here, eight great ways to make bedtime at least a little bit better for the whole family. Sweet dreams!
![Good Night, [Your City Here]](http://media4.onsugar.com/files/2012/03/11/1/192/1922664/a752d07e45d28aea_NYCCover.smallsquare/i/Good-Night-Your-City-Here.jpg "Good Night, [Your City Here]")
Even when you know you should be going to bed sooner, life gets in the way. Whether it's a busy schedule that doesn't leave you with enough hours in the day or the need to relax in front of the TV before you grab some shut-eye, you may not be able to force yourself to get to bed when the yawning starts.
If you're tired of paying the consequences of a late bedtime the next day, here are some reasons to remind yourself why it may be time for you to call it a night earlier.
You rely on your snooze button. Your internal clock may not be set for 6 a.m. jogs, but if you find yourself having too much trouble getting out of bed — hitting the snooze button over and over, for example — try getting to sleep earlier. After all, snoozing won't help you feel refreshed since fragmented sleep doesn't make up for sleep deficits.
You need a nap during the day. We can't always just curl up in a ball when we want to, but if you're constantly fighting the urge to snooze come afternoon, you're probably not getting enough sleep — or at least not enough sleep that counts.
Read on for more signs you're going to sleep too late.
The Summer is winding down, and while you may have been lax about a bedtime routine during vacation and Summer camp, it's important to reestablish a strict bedtime routine to help your kids develop a stable internal clock. Most kids need between 10-12 hours of sleep. Set a strict bedtime for your kids, and save enough time beforehand to help them wind down. Share with us what helps you get your kids to bed. Read more for our mock-up bedtime schedule.
Good night, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite! If only getting lil ones down to dreamland was that easy! Children have a way of pushing their bedtime to the limits by thirsting for another drink, saying they need the bathroom and sweetly asking us to read "just one more book."
New research shows that providing tots with strict bedtimes can improve the quality and quantity of the shut-eye they receive and their overall health. According to the study, families with lower levels of income and education were less likely to enforce a strict end of the day (this was attributed to stress levels and fewer routines), and their children's health and sleep patterns suffered. The authors of the study also emphasized the importance of a nightly bedtime routine to help the tots fall asleep faster. Most parents dream their children would nod off to sleep without putting up a fight, but that rarely happens. How do you enforce bedtime in your home?
Got a few pointers you've picked up along the way for getting your tot into bed at an early time? Join our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group over in our LilSugar community and share your tips!
