Bedtime battles

Thu, May 8 12:45 AM

Its 11.30 pm and Chitra is struggling to get her two-year-old Tia into bed.

Her husband, Vinayak, has just gotten home and is disrupting bed time by playing with with Tia. Four-year-old Pinak refuses to go to bed before midnight.

His parents report to work early but Pinak always stays up late in the night. Nothing new Parents, especially of young kids, are familiar with this scenario - when you find it difficult to get the children into bed.

After a long day of work, you want to relax, spend some time with your spouse and want an early start the next day but your little one refuses to let you do that. Stress mess Parvati Halbe, a pediatrician, often gets asked how to change sleeping patterns in children.

"Be calm but firm. Even if you're tired, frustrated or sleepy do not transfer your mood onto the child.

It will only make matters worse. Speak calmly and quietly but insist on bedtime," she says.

Sometimes, with hectic schedules, we hurry our children to bed, for some peace of mind and relaxation. Instead, give your child plenty of attention and affection before bedtime.

"Take your child to bed instead of sending her to bed," the doctor emphasises.

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