Experts agree: getting your kids to bed earlier can lead to healthier, happier lives. There’s a flood of parenting advice available, and let’s be honest, it can be overwhelming. But if you can set aside a moment of skepticism, here’s a nugget of wisdom for expectant parents: listen to those self-assured friends who swear by sleep training.
I don’t typically dish out parenting tips; my approach can best be described as “default parenting.” This approach involves trying out various parenting trends, often failing, and then just doing whatever works out of sheer necessity. However, there’s one piece of advice I regret not following: I never sleep-trained my children, and I’ve paid dearly for it in terms of my mental well-being.
Recent insights from an article titled “In Defense of Absurdly Early Bedtimes” have brought my sleep training regrets back to the forefront. It’s shocking that anyone would need to defend such a practice. Who among us wouldn’t prefer lounging on the couch instead of grappling with bedtime battles that stretch into the early hours? The author, Lisa Greene, a science journalist who also writes a parenting column, has consistently managed to put her kids to bed by 7:30 PM, and she couldn’t be happier for it. Research backs her up too: children who sleep earlier tend to be more focused, rested, and even perform better academically.
Greene examines several studies, highlighting that shifting bedtimes can significantly impact kids. “Just four nights of getting kids to sleep an hour earlier improved their short-term memory, working memory, and attention spans,” she notes. Another study revealed that toddlers with early bedtimes were 62% less likely to face attention issues by age eight and 81% less likely to experience aggression problems.
Beyond the benefits for the kids, earlier bedtimes also work wonders for parents’ sanity. Imagine sipping a glass of wine in peace or enjoying a movie night with your partner—blissful, right? It’s frustrating to think about how much easier my life could have been if I had embraced an earlier bedtime for my kids.
That sweet little infant whose cries you can’t stand will inevitably morph into a toddler wreaking havoc on your home life. My first child was still using a pack-n-play at age three because he needed to be confined or he’d roam around his room endlessly. People think I’m exaggerating, but I assure you, I’m not. I’d put him to bed at 8 PM only for him to chatter away for hours. Even now, at five, he still does it!
My daughter, on the other hand, has become an earlier sleeper. By the time she came along, I was so exhausted that when she protested an early bedtime, I thought, “No way!” Her cries didn’t tug at my heartstrings like her brother’s did, because I knew what awaited me if I didn’t stay firm. But when one child refuses to sleep, it throws the whole household into chaos.
I still vividly remember my first attempt at the cry-it-out method with my four-month-old. I rushed to his side, repeating “I’m sorry” as he sobbed. I never tried that again.
I’m not afraid to admit when I’ve made a mistake, and this is one of those regrets. Numerous studies confirm that earlier bedtimes are beneficial for children. So do yourself a favor by establishing an earlier sleep routine when they’re infants. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re binge-watching your favorite series instead of reading the same bedtime story for the umpteenth time.
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Summary
Listening to your sleep-training friends can provide valuable insights that contribute to your children’s overall well-being. Establishing an earlier bedtime may lead to improved focus, happiness, and even academic performance in kids. Don’t make the same mistakes I did—set a routine early on for a more peaceful household later.