{"id":90000000319,"date":"2021-03-01T19:06:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T19:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/fort-mill\/?p=90000000319"},"modified":"2021-03-01T19:06:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T19:06:04","slug":"helping-your-preschooler-develop-healthy-sleep-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/fort-mill\/2021\/03\/01\/helping-your-preschooler-develop-healthy-sleep-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Your Preschooler Develop Healthy Sleep Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Helping<\/figure>

Remember when you were little and taking a nap or going to bed were the worst part of your day? It was basically torture to have to lay in your bed for two hours and rest in the middle of a perfectly good afternoon! My, how things change as we grow older! Your preschooler will not understand any more than you did at her age why sleep is so important, but developing healthy sleep habits in your preschooler is just as necessary as making sure she eats well and gets plenty of exercise. These habits include sleeping in her own bed, getting the necessary amount of sleep, and a solid routine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Place of Her Own<\/span><\/h4>\n

It is easier to train a toddler to sleep in her own room from the beginning than it is to have to teach it later on after other sleeping habits have been made. It is widely advised by medical professionals that children sleep in their own space and on their own sleeping surface. This sets your child up for sleep success. Eliminating noise and distractions by having their own sleeping space helps preschoolers be able to fall asleep and stay asleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Much is Enough?<\/span><\/h4>\n

Your preschooler (age 3-4) needs a total of 11 to 12 hours of sleep each day. This time can include a nap. If your preschooler takes a two hour nap every day, they only require 9 to 10 hours of sleep at night. When deciding on bedtimes, take into account the time your child needs to wake up in the morning and how much time she spends napping during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Routine to Sleep On<\/span><\/h4>\n

Preschoolers thrive on routine, and making a routine of bedtime is no different. Routines give preschoolers a sense of control because they can predict what is going to happen next. A suggested after dinner nightly routine would include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n