Often, children can find all the daily must-dos boring, like having to go to bed.
It's almost as if they are allergic to brushing their teeth, brushing their hair, washing themselves, putting on pajamas, and sleeping. There can be a lot of whining, stalling, hide and seek, and arguing.
Having good routines is therefore super important as it gives the child a sense of security and they know what to expect.
Here we share tips on smart routines that work well at bedtime.
Tips for good bedtime routines for children:
- End screen time 1-2 hours before bedtime. This gives the child time to wind down.
- Brush teeth the same way every time. Feel free to use a timer so the child can see how long they have brushed their teeth.
- It helps if children know where to put dirty laundry and where their pajamas are.
- Turn off the lights or dim them to cozy lighting before bedtime.
- Read one or more books together in bed or tell a story to your child.
More fun routines
There are several things you can do to make all these routines more enjoyable.
Here are five tips:
1. Hair brushing for children
It’s understandable that brushing hair can be boring. It can also hurt if there are knots in the hair. Here, the hairbrush is crucial. A good brush makes an incredibly big difference.
Ibero has nice hairbrushes in different sizes that easily detangle both wet and dry hair. Let the child be involved and choose their own hairbrush.
2. Brushing little teeth
Brushing teeth is difficult. But it always becomes more fun when you introduce a new toothbrush or toothpaste.
Try a bamboo toothbrush, which both looks and tastes different. Bamboo toothbrushes are especially good if the child likes to bite or chew on the brush since it is softer. Also, you don’t have to worry about them ingesting plastic particles.
Jack N` Jill’s children’s toothpastes are usually appreciated because they taste good and have a fun design with a colorful cap. The toothpaste comes in strawberry and raspberry flavors.
Otherwise, try the yellow Tooth Gel for children, specially designed for cleaning and caring for baby teeth and to preserve the natural balance of the oral flora.
A tip is to start early with dental floss to get the child used to it. Make it a habit to floss a few times, preferably every day and at least several times a week.
Use a thin dental floss so you can easily get between the teeth or try Humble Brush Floss Picks which can be reused.
Good dental and oral health benefits children for life!
3. Showering and bathing
When it comes to baths, bubbles are always appreciated. Eco Cosmetics has a bubble bath/bath foam for children that is extra mild and less drying than conventional varieties.
For washing, a bar soap is a bit more fun. Especially if it smells nice too. Perfect for dirty feet and hands.
Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps are nice and moderately scented.
Unscented soaps from Malin i Ratan are perfect for children with sensitive skin.
Vermont Soap’s solid organic soaps Shea Butter and Baby Bar are fantastic for children’s sensitive skin. They are based on a low-allergenic vegetable base from organic coconut, palm, olive, and palm kernel oils. The palm oil comes from a small-scale farm and is sustainably grown.
Vermont Soap chooses to use sustainable palm oil to support the families who make their living from palm oil cultivation.
4. Skincare for children
For children with dry skin, it is important to moisturize after bathing/washing.
Here you can choose a cream with a pleasant scent because then children often want to help apply it.
Two popular nourishing creams that smell wonderful are Lenelunden Naturprodukter’s Shea Cream with white chocolate/vanilla and Shea Cream Strawberry Temptation. They contain organic unbleached shea butter and organic cocoa butter/shea butter oil, which make wonderful and lovely body creams.
For the very youngest, we recommend a cream/lotion without added fragrance that is easy to apply and also suits older children who are sensitive to scents.
Or try pure shea butter with no other ingredients.
Weleda’s Calendula series suits children who need extra care and relief for their skin. The calendula content helps soothe and relieve dry, irritated, and sensitive skin.
Choose from Weleda Calendula Body Cream, which is a slightly thicker, intensely nourishing cream, Calendula Body Lotion, which is a light lotion, or Calendula Baby Oil, which can be used from birth.
5. Falling asleep easier
For children who have trouble settling down at bedtime, there is the Humio Humidifier + Lamp + Aroma Diffuser in one. The lamp creates a cozy and calm atmosphere in the bedroom with soft colors that rotate in shades of red, blue, and green.
The humidifier can also be used as a nightlight with different colors that slowly change, or you can pause the lamp on your favorite color.
You can add different essential oils to the aroma diffuser, and at bedtime, lavender essential oil is perfect as it is relaxing and calming.
Do you have good tips on how to make routines more fun for your children? Share in a comment or ask a question and we will answer!
