Nighttime Routine
Happy “Tooth-Day:!
Farah Flossit here, wishing you well after a long weekend:)
Not sure about your homes, but routines are very important in my house. I’m a true believer that creating a routine for brushing is very important and will help your children have lasting good oral habits.
The information I’m reporting today was gathered by me from HealthyChildren.org (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/Brush-Book-Bed.aspx). In doing a brief search for nighttime books, I came across this information & thought it was a great find that I could share with my readers to help implement or improve “Nighttime Routine”.
The main message is BRUSH, BOOK, BED. One of the things I love about this, is that it also promotes literacy.
Brush, Book, Bed, is a program of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and has a simple and clear message for parents:
- Each night, help your children to brush their teeth.
- Read a favorite book (or two)!
- Get to bed at a regular time each night.
Having a predictable nighttime routine will help them understand and learn to expect what comes next. Additionally, routines may ease the stress that some families experience at nighttime. Sleep is very important to your child’s health and well-being. In fact, good sleep habits start from birth. However, getting young children to sleep (and to stay asleep) is often one of the most daunting tasks of parenthood. Regardless of your child’s age, the key is to have a predictable series of steps that help him wind down from the day. All young children need help with brushing from an adult to make sure a good job is done. As soon as baby is born, you can start good oral health practices.
After toothbrushing and before bed, find a comfortable spot to sit and read with your child. Spending some time, even just 15 minutes each day, to read aloud together will help improve your child’s language development and social-emotional skills. Make up your own stories, use silly voices, sing songs, and just enjoy this special bonding time with your child. Visit your local library or bookstore, and give your child the opportunity to explore different kinds of books. Remember, it is never too early to share books with your child. As your child ages, so will the kind of books he or she enjoys.
Set regular bedtimes (and, if appropriate, nap times) and stick to them. Do not wait for your child to start rubbing his eyes or yawning — that’s probably too late. Putting your child to bed even 15 to 20 minutes earlier can make a big difference and ensure everyone has a good night’s rest.
Funny enough, I didn’t continue with my search for NEW Nighttime Books, so next week I will make sure to share my cool finds about that, lol:) I thought today was very appropriate for the topic at hand, considering how difficult it could be getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend. I hope this was encouraging information to help you all get back into your daily routines.
Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!
I look forward to chatting with you all next week!
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Your Friend,
Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)
