There's nothing nicer than the excitement of children at Christmas - but trying to get them to go to sleep on Christmas Eve can be a seriously tricky task. As they excitedly wait for Santa to visit, many parents will know the struggle of trying to get them to close their eyes, but one sleep expert has shared some top tips for any parent who may be battling to get their little ones to sleep.
While it may be the most magical time of the year for children, sleep expert Dave Gibson has shared some ways to help parents navigate the festive season. Speaking to Vitabiotics, he explained: "For parents with young children, Christmas Eve is possibly the most difficult night of the year for getting a good night's sleep. The excitement of Santa's impending arrival overstimulates children, making it harder for them to fall asleep. Add the broken sleep patterns, early waking to open gifts, and the fear of missing out on the festive fun downstairs, and you have a challenging combination.".
Firstly, he suggested maintaining your child's regular sleep schedule, even during the festive season. By doing this, it can help children's brains "feel calm". Keeping a routine can help a child wind down easily if they stick to their normal bedtime routine.
However if there are some plans that may adjust a child's sleeping pattern, stagger out the difference. David said: "If you plan to allow your child to stay up a few hours later on Christmas Eve, possibly in the hope they will wake later too, I recommend staggering the change during the nights before with smaller steps so their body clock naturally adjusts to this time.".
