“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all though the house every creature was stirring, yes even the mouse”
Sound familiar to you?
This is my house nearly every Christmas Eve. A house full to the brim with super excited children to hyped up to go to sleep and a list as long as my arm of things to get done once they finally drift off.
The excitement was in fact so great one year that my eldest daughter was crying she needed an ambulance; I kid you not she had got that worked up she was actually having a panic attack!
Over the years I have used some tried and tested methods and for the last few years things have been a little more smooth sailing.
I have a few tips here to try and get your little ones off to sleep as easily as you can:
Limit The Sugar What! No sugar at Christmas I hear you say. This is admittedly an extremely tricky one at this time of year, but keeping the sugar at a low on Christmas Eve will make sure that the bouncing off the walls is only from excitement and not a sugar high!
Wear Them Out this is one of my biggest tips. We always try to include plenty of outdoor fun on Christmas Eve that includes as much running, jumping and climbing as possible to ensure they will be greatful to get their heads on their pillows.
Quiet Rituals make family traditions that will become familiar each year so they are used to them. Quiet crafts, a bit of baking, a Christmas movie a board game. Anything that will draw their attention away from the main mans appearance that evening is a good thing.
Milk For Santa, Milk For Them as well as putting out that mince pie and a glass of milk for Santa, pour one for the children too. The amino acids in milk add sleep and let’s be honest every little helps.
Create A Restful Room there is no good trying to put them to sleep in a room full of flashing fairy lights and noise. Limit any stimulation and make their room as peaceful and dark as possible. Blackout blinds are perfect for this and might even get you a extra bit of time in bed on Christmas morning.
The ‘He Won’t Come’ Threat ifall else fails the threat of him only coming if they are sleeping always works wonders!
*collaborated post
I sooo agree with the sugar thing, It’s so hard to keep them from bouncing off the walls.