How to get your children to sleep on Christmas Eve

It’s the most wonderful time of year after all, so it’s no wonder children all over the world struggle to drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve. The thought of presents and chocolate can sometimes just be too exciting! But we can appreciate that all the Santa-based hysteria poses a unique set of challenges for parents who are at a loss for how to get their kids to settle down and go to sleep before the big day.

To help you sharpen the tools in your bedtime routine arsenal come this festive season, we’ve put together all our top tips and know-how on how to get your children to sleep on Christmas Eve. From bedtime stories to sugar curfews, relaxation techniques and more, we’ve got you covered!

Tips on how to get to sleep on Christmas Eve 

Read a Christmas-themed bedtime story

Did you know that regular bedtime reading actually helps children drop off to sleep faster? Because nighttime reading usually happens when your little one is already tired, the mere sight of a storybook becomes associated with feeling sleepy. A strong signal that sleep is imminent, reading a Christmas bedtime story will make your child feel relaxed and drift off to the land of nod within a few short chapters.

Play soothing music or calming sounds

Much like bedtime stories, lullabies are famous for getting kids to sleep. But if you have a singing voice more akin to a bag of coal than the herald angels, some calming music or nature sounds could be a better bet! Music or lullabies can also make up part of a bedtime routine to remind your child of sleep, but research has shown music with a tempo of 60 to 8- beats per minute can slow down the heart and breath to quiet the nervous system ready for sleep. Opt for something soft and rhythmic to help them calm down and sleep tight.

Dim the lights to create a calming atmosphere

Soft and cosy, turning down the lights creates a warming environment that lets your children know it’s time for sleep. Our brains are wired to associate light with being alert and awake, while we link the darkness with sleep – a process determined by our circadian rhythm. If they’re a bit too afraid of the complete darkness, make the room as dark as they are comfortable with to help the drift off easily and so as not to disrupt their body clock. There are some great low-light nightlights out there.

How to get kids to sleep on Christmas Eve

Stick to regular bedtime routines

It’s hard, we know. School’s out, Santa’s en route and Rudolph needs a carrot left out by the back door. How on earth are you meant to keep your child’s regular routine going at Christmas time? Doing your very best to stick to sleep and waking times throughout the Christmas period will really help you to get the kids to sleep on Christmas eve. Have fun in the day by all means to tire them out, but stay strong on bedtime!

Impose a sugar and screen time curfew

Christmas is sugar season so you need to stay strong with this one. Cookies, chocolates and other sweet treats need to go away at least three hours before bedtime so they’re not feeling wired and hyper when it’s time to shit their eyes. The same goes for screens too! The blue light from phones, TVs and tablets can trick the brain into thinking it’s still daytime and make it harder to sleep as not enough melatonin is produced. 

Employ relaxation techniques

If they really struggle to calm down from all the excitement, it may become time to turn to relaxation techniques. Deep breathing or meditation methods may be what they need to slow down their active minds, or if they have visual minds, how about some guided imagery exercises to help them feel calm? Whatever you choose, remember to be patient and understanding – Christmas is very overwhelming for little ones!

How to create a comfortable sleep environment

Invest in a top quality children’s bed

What could be cosier on Christmas eve than an incredible bed built just for kids? A childrens bed so good they actually can’t wait to crawl beneath their covers! At Time4Sleep, our comfortable kids beds could be just what you’re looking for. From cabin beds to mid-sleepers, we’re sure to have the dreamiest bunk for your little darling. Take a look at our complete collection of childrens beds here and prepare for a childhood full of sweet dreams.

Give them a warm bath

Bathing our children in a warm bath makes their body temperature rise and then go down a bit, inducing sleepiness. In general, our body temperatures lower while we sleep, and so by bathing our children before bed we get a headstart in helping them drop off to sleep. Plus, a bath before bed is another super helpful step in a great kids bedtime routine. So if you’re not bathing them before bed already, get to it – it could really help them wind down!

Make them a soothing bedtime drink

A warm glass of milk before bed may help your child to sleep as it contains nutrients and amino acids which promote the natural sleep hormone, melatonin. And while there is no evidence to suggest warm milk is better than cold milk to induce sleep, there’s something about a warming mug of milk that has a soothing effect on the body. Lactose intolerant? How about a warm Vimto instead?

Searching for more ways to boost your children’s sleep quality?

The best tips on how to get your child to sleep on Christmas Eve all revolve around maintaining their usual routine, creating a calming environment amidst the excitement and ensuring they have the very best bed to get cosy in. Remember to give them a warming bath, read them bedtime stories and practise relaxation exercises to calm their central nervous system, slow their breathing and get them ready for a long and restful night’s sleep. Otherwise, Father Christmas won’t be able to shimmy down the chimney!

From sleep hygiene advice to tips on how to improve sleep quality, we’ve got all the inspiration you need when it comes to the bedroom! Browse our blog here.