Six tips to get your kids to sleep soundly before Santa arrives on Christmas Eve
Parents should follow six simple steps to prepare their children for bed on Christmas Eve, a sleep expert has urged.
For many families, festive excitement peaks on Christmas Eve, when little ones are gripped by the anticipation of catching a glimpse of Santa and opening the presents that await them under the tree.
But Christmas Eve jitters can make it difficult to get kids to sleep, giving parents less time to arrange all the magic for Christmas morning and even risking tantrums from tired tots on the big day.
READ MORE: Bin man's important message to people throwing away Christmas cards, wrapping and gift bags
READ MORE: Urgent paracetamol warning as new study links medication to serious health problems
Fortunately, a sleep expert has outlined the best ways to create a calming but festive atmosphere and lull the kids to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Cat Wiltshire from Online-Bedrooms.co.uk explained: “Kids can often get really hyper the night before Christmas and a lot of them are determined to try and see Santa. This can make it really hard for parents to get their kids to fall asleep so they can prepare all of the Christmas magic.”
How to get your kids to sleep well on Christmas Eve
1. Plan an active day
If possible, try to make sure that your children are kept busy with fun activities throughout the day on Christmas Eve, so that they are tired out when it’s time for bed. Cat recommends going on a long walk in the fresh air to burn some energy, or spending time playing games to bond as a family and keep festive spirits high.
2. Keep sugar to a minimum
For many children, sweet treats are a highlight of the holidays, but Cat stresses that too much sugar can leave them feeling hyperactive long after their bedtime. Cat suggests keeping all sugar intake to earlier in the day, so that your kids’ energy levels don’t spike later in the evening when they’re due to go to bed.
3. Warm and cosy evening
An indulgent but low-intensity evening is the perfect way to help your kids unwind while still treating them to festive rituals. Cat recommends dimming the lights and putting on a Christmas film, while providing your kids with warm fluffy blankets and a cup of hot chocolate to get cosy.
4. Bedtime bath
Research has shown that a warm bath helps to prepare the mind and body for sleep by making you feel relaxed and comfortable.
For this reason, Cat points to bath time as a perfect opportunity to ease your kids into sleep. She suggests treating them to a festive-themed bath bomb to keep Christmas spirits high while winding down energy levels for the evening.
5. Christmas Eve boxes
Sometimes, despite our best efforts to prepare kids for sleep, the anticipation of ripping open presents can derail the best-planned bedtime routine.
Giving Christmas Eve boxes is a fun way to satisfy your children's eagerness to open gifts and allow them to focus solely on getting ready for sleep afterwards. Consider filling it with cosy pyjamas, fluffy socks, and hot chocolate to encourage your loved ones to snuggle up and drift off.
6. Promise them a magical Christmas morning
Discussing Christmas morning plans with your children is a clever tactic to incentivise them to go to sleep. Stress that the magic of waking up to presents and Santa’s footsteps will arrive much sooner once they have drifted off, to prompt them to get into bed.
Make sure you are also signed up to our newsletters for the latest Christmas news sent straight to your inbox.
