Tips for sleep survival after Halloween
Ah yes, end of October. The leaves are falling and temperatures are cooling. If you’re in Canada you’ve taken down Thanksgiving decorations and replaced them with Hallowe’en ones.
No matter how old your child is, these tips for sleep survival after Halloween below can help you and your child survive Halloween highs and hopefully avoid early morning struggles:
Avoid over stimulation before bed
This is especially true if you have small children. The sights and sounds of Halloween are new and exciting, so consider starting your Halloween rituals early. If you are on good terms with your neighbours, consider pre-arranging an early time for your child’s Halloween experience. This ensures that they can show off their cool costumes before dark (what a great way to be seen!).
Keep up with bedtime routines
Once your children are done examining their spoils, you need to start the bedtime routine. Turn off all the lights in the front of your house to indicate the night is over - you may even want to put a bowl of candy out for the later trick-or-treaters. This will ensure that any kids out after dark can help themselves without disturbing your child’s sleep routine.
Limit Sugar
Yes, we know we are taking the fun out of Halloween, but sugar is the enemy when it comes to getting a good sleep. Make sure that you start your Hallowed Eve with an early meal before all the excitement starts. Focus on balanced choices so that your children have enough “fuel” to make it through the night.
In the spirit of the holiday, you can even do your bedtime routine by flashlight, which would be fun and a little different for your children. Additionally, turning the overhead lights off in the house will encourage the release of melatonin in your children, which will help them to feel sleepy.
Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for children, but the late night trick-or-treating, massive amounts of sugar, and excitement can throw a wrench into even the best sleeper’s patterns. Use these tips to ensure everyone in the family gets a good sleep this Halloween.