10 Tried And Tested Sleep Tricks UK Parents Use At Bedtime

We’ve all been there - desperately trying to settle the children in bed when sleep is the last thing they want to do.

From bribery to cajoling, parents try everything, and if you're worried about your get-them-to-sleep tactics, we've got some reassuring admissions from other parents to share.

A new survey has revealed the top excuses that children use for not wanting to go to bed – and how parents change their minds.

We’re talking bribing them with presents, letting them watch TV until they fall asleep and even allowing them to have sweets before bedtime. Sound familiar?

The study of 1,500 parents, conducted by bedtime toys company Dream Lites, also showed what time children aged between three and six years old go to bed and how many times they wake in the night.

The average child goes to sleep at 7.22pm and wakes at 6.46am, after waking three times in the night.

But who suffers most? Mums.

Around 45 per cent of mothers regularly get up to soothe their child back to sleep, compared to only 21 per cent of dads who do the same.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 24 per cent of parents are unable to remember the last time they had a good night’s sleep.

Top 10 Excuses Children Give For Not Wanting To Go Back To Bed
1.    Claim not to be tired
2.    Want one more story told to them
3.    Claim to be hungry or thirsty
4.    Want to stay up to watch their favourite TV show
5.    Scared of the dark
6.    Wants to play on iPad/tablet
7.    Don't want to miss out on the fun
8.    Sibling not going to bed yet
9.    Want to play on their games console
10.    Scared that their cuddly toys will come to life after they go to sleep

Top 10 Techniques Used By Parents To Get Their Children To Sleep
1.    Allow them to sleep in parent’s bed
2.    Allow them to stay up and watch TV until they fall asleep
3.    Pretend to fall asleep in their room with them
4.    Actually fall asleep in their room with them
5.    Allow them to play with an iPad/games console in bed until they fall asleep
6.    Promise to buy them a present
7.    Drive them around in the car
8.    Gave them sweets
9.    Tell them they won’t get any Christmas/birthday presents if they don’t go to bed
10.    Tell them a white lie

These methods may sound shocking, but sleep expert Mandy Gurney says it’s pretty normal for parents to resort to measures like these. However, she warns of the long-term effect on the child.

“Though such techniques appear to work in the short term, they may have the opposite effect in the long term,” says Mandy.

“Children who rely on props at bedtime are more vulnerable to waking later in the night – as the child comes into light sleep phases, which we all do throughout they night. And then they are likely to seek such props to help them get back to sleep again.”

A good sleep routine is all a parent needs, Mandy explains. “Just setting aside 30 minutes at the end of the day with a simple, quiet, relaxing bath, a calm story and kiss goodnight is well worth the effort.”

Chances are it will help soothe and relax you, too. Double win.

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How do you help your child fall asleep? Share your tips in the comments.