One of the most stressful parts of the day for many of moms is bedtime. Many kids fight sleep, get out of bed repeatedly, or just plain make bedtime difficult. Sleep is important for kids to grow and develop as well as focus in school. These tricks can help take the stress out of bedtime.

8 Tips for a Less Stressful Bedtime

1. Cut out late naps. Napping in the afternoons can make kids less keen on going to bed at a decent time. When you child starts fighting bedtime that often means they are ready to give up their afternoon nap.

2. Skip dessert. By cutting out late evening sugar filled treats you give your child’s body a chance to settle in and get ready for sleep. Pay close attention to sugars and sodas with later meals. Fruit makes a great healthy sweet dessert without the sugar rush.

3. Give your child a relaxing bath. When it comes to your nightly routine a nice warm bath can relax your child’s body and make falling asleep easier for your child. Tangerine or lavender essential oils can help relax your child as well and make a great fragrance for homemade Epson bath soaks.

4. Cuddle up with a good book. Turning off screens and letting the mind settle from the exposure to light is a great way to help your child relax at night and encourage sleep.

[Tweet “Struggling with bedtimes? Check out these 8 Tips for a Less Stressful Bedtime! #moms”]

5. Get outside during the day. Kids sleep so much better after fresh air and when you keep them busy and moving through the day. Getting active can help your kids fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly to be ready for the next morning.

6. If your child has a habit of getting out of bed. Give your child a quiet time in there room where they are encouraged to relax and calm down. In this time do not allow running and jumping. Encourage your child to relax and do something they love. Reading a book, playing with toys, or building with blocks is a great way for them to have fun and relax.

7. Cut down late night potty breaks. If your child is the type to use multiple potty breaks to get out of going to bed you can try having a cut off time for drinks. An hour before bed is a good time to cut of liquids to encourage less night time potty breaks.

8. Snuggle together. This is my favorite trick for getting kids to sleep stress free. Each night at bedtime I would lay down with my little ones and we would snuggle and chat about the day, talk about heaven, and more. I’d ask her, “What do you want to dream about tonight?” That one question sparked a lot of very sweet conversations with my two and three year old children. Kids grow up soooo fast. And while it may seem frustrating when all you want to do is have some alone time, I promise you won’t regret those times together!

Share your tips in the comments below!