How do I get my kid to sleep in their own bed all night? Here are 11 quick parenting tips.

Sleep is probably the biggest concern and stressor for parents. Sleep is the foundation of your mood and energy. Unfortunately, many children don’t understand how precious sleep is for them and their parents. Every stage of sleep, from getting to sleep to waking up too early, can be filled with frustration and turns many parents into zombies the next morning.

The first step is to figure out why your child is having trouble sleeping in bed all night. This takes some sleuthing, but chances are there’s a reason (or reasons) your child is having trouble staying asleep in their bed all night. Is their room too bright? Is their room too dark? Are there too many toys in their room? Do they get too stimulated during the day? Do they get enough opportunity to burn energy? Are they getting enough to eat? Are they going through a developmental change? The possibilities are endless, but these are a good place to start. Don't lose sleep looking for the cause of your child’s sleepless nights, just start narrowing down what's working and not working in your favor.

1.

Install blackout curtains to make your child’s room darker. This will also keep the sunlight out in the morning and help your child sleep longer.

2.

Put a night light in their room or right outside the hallway.

3.

Put away their toys. Toys might be too stimulating for your child. Try making their room as calm and peaceful as possible.

4.

Try adding white noise. Sometimes children sleep better when there’s a comforting, consistent noise lulling them to sleep. There are various apps that mix white noise from various sources or you could go old school and just use a fan.

5.

Try playing some calming binaural beats. Binaural beats are tones that simulate different brainwaves. The beats cause the mind and body to relax or more awake depending on which binaural beat is playing.

6.

Feed them foods that promote sleep. Foods that promote sleep include almonds, walnuts, cheese and crackers, tuna and rice. A quick internet search will yield many more ideas.

7.

Make sure your child gets at least 30 minutes of sunlight. Sunlight helps us sleep and also has many more health benefits.

8.

Make sure the temperature in your child’s room is comfortable. Some children like to be cool at night, and some children like to be warmer. Try both conditions to see which one your child likes best.

9.

Start the bedtime routine earlier. Your child might be getting too stimulated during the day and right before bed. This stimulus makes it difficult for children to wind down enough to get to sleep and stay asleep. Turn off the TV and dim the lights about an hour or more before bed. Discourage rough-housing and other activities that could excite your child.

10.

Make sure your child gets enough opportunity to burn energy during the day. Don’t exhaust your child but encourage activities that let them get outside or otherwise move around.

11.

Reward your child when they achieve your wish using a universal wishlist. Use your mobile device to check off each night they sleep in their own bed. They earn a prize, in a way, you do too.