Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by on on behalf of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. All experiences and opinions are my own. Yours may differ.
In our home one of the keys to successful sleeping in our children has been our nightly routine. As a family we read stories, reach scriptures, have family prayer and then head to the bathroom for teeth brushing and bed. All my kids LOVE books. This love began as babies and has grown as they have grown. Then I was first introduced to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine apps I know they would be successful at my house because the routine has been established.
This top picture is the cover of the first app “I See the Animals Sleep: A Bedtime Story” book. This app is a story book all about different animals and how they sleep. This lovely app has some beautiful illustrations! You can choose to read the book yourself or have the app read the story for you. After each page you have the option to click on the animal and hear the sound it makes (In case you were wondering “What does the fox say?” this app will tell you!) You can also click a little moon symbol in the upper right hand corner and learn facts about each animal. This very nice, very calm book is a nice way to end the day.
The second app is “The Animal Sleep Book: A Bedtime Book of Biomes”. What is a Biome you ask? A Biome is a large region of plants and animals. Each Biome provide a home for animals to eat and sleep. So for example the tropical rainforest is a biome and is home to many animals including a jaguar.
This app also has amazing illustrations. You can choose to read the book yourself or have the app read it to you. This book is nice because it relates how animals sleep to how children sleep. If you have children that question why they need sleep, or could use some sleep facts these apps are here to help! My two older kids are great sleepers, but I think that if they were having trouble that these books would help. They would love to know how different animals sleep and facts about there sleep. They would love to be able to relate that information to themselves and learning about their own need for sleep. This book also offers some sleep facts on each page and correlate with the biome it is talking about.
Both of these books are available in hard cover on Amazon or available for free as apps in the iTunes Store, the Google Play Store and on Kindle Fire. You can download your free apps versions here.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is offering a GIVEAWAY! Enter to win a $30 Amazon Gift Card! All you have to do to enter to win is answer one these questions in the comments section of this blog post:
- How do you discuss sleep habits with your children?
- How do you make bedtime something to look forward too?
The winner will be chosen by random drawing using random.org. Winner will be emailed an electronic $30 Amazon gift card. Making of a Mom is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Giveaway will end November 25 at 11:59 pm.
Sarah Traphagan says
Well my 2yr old looks forward to watching Spongebob, I put the movie in and He gets to watch for about 20-30 min. It’s his favorite. My oldest just knows that 9 is bedtime on school nights. And other nights we stay up together and play games of his choice before bed.
Jennifer MIllar says
We use a routine so the kids expect a bedtime book before they sleep. They really look forward to it. I think these may have to go into our rotation though because the cover illustrations are absolutely stunning.
Jennifer Dunaway says
The kids lay down at the same time every night and watch a movie. By the time it’s over they are usually asleep.
Tina says
We make bedtime special by having the same routine every night. We have special white christmas lights we use year round. we turn them on and she knows bedtime is on the way. Then a nice bath and she picks out a book to read.
Angela says
We snack and cuddle on the couch, then wash up, brush teeth, change into pjs, and read a book in bed and say prayers.
Danielle Khazeni says
I have been following the same routine for my 3 1/2 year old since he was a baby- bath, pjs, brush teeth, book, song. He loves routine. To keep it interesting, once a week I get him a new book from either store or library. He gets excited and is ready for bed in no time 🙂
Lisa Kerr says
I dont really discuss bedtime with my grandson because he is only two, but he loves to get bedtime stories read to him and a routine every night is most important!
Melissa says
I save story time until after we have a nice bath and have our cozy jammies on. The my daughter and I snuggle and read together.
Shannon Baas says
We read several books.
Margaret Smith says
Each night about a 1/2 hour before bedtime, my kids and I get into my king size bed and either read a bit or watch a little tv. My husband works a night shift, so it’s just me and my kids. This works great. It’s our routine and the kids know that it’s settle down time. After about 1/2 hour, they go into their own beds with no problem
Ann Fantom says
We have discussed the importance of sleep with my daughter and what she has to do get that sleep. We have a bedtime ritual and she now follows the routine with little resistance.
Adrienne Gordon says
I let them know getting a good night sleep is part of being healthy.
Cynthia C says
I always reminded my kids that they need sleep to stay healthy and function well. We always had story time before bed to make it more enjoyable.
Tiffanie Davenport says
We’ve always told our kids that we need sleep so that our bodies are rested and can function properly and to keep them healthy and grow. We read books, bathtime etc as a routine every night
Jill P says
I have to talk a lot to my daughter about sleep routines which involves taking a bath, brushing teeth and reading books each night. We constantly work on night time routine in my house since my child has a very hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. We also talk a lot about dreams etc. I have found if we try to stick to our nightly schedule that she sleeps better.
Linda Lansford says
make bedtime something to look forward too
by reading stories to them
Christy Colln says
we either read together or he gets to silently read before bed, either way he enjoys it
Katie Alfonso says
My toddler looks forward to sleep because we get to snuggle and he gets to nurse to sleep. Snuggles from him are the best part of any day.
Tarah says
I try to always read my sons a book or three before bedtime. It’s great for their education, it’s great bonding time, and they feel they’re pulling one over on me by staying up just a bit later.
april yedinak says
I make bedtime something to look forward to, because we read stories and cuddle before I tuck them in.
Danielle Porter says
We don’t have kids yet, but when we do I want to read to them every night and make sure they know how sleep is important!
shirley says
Bedtime at our home is really book or story time. The kids really look forward to it. I even catch our teens stopping and listening to the stories.
Lisa Brown says
we read to our children at night: a story they like, even a picture book and make a story up, anything to settle them for the night – it always works.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Silvia Fugate says
we stick to the same bedtime every night and then its great story time before bed! Reading a new book every week really gives them something to look forward to.
Janell Poulette says
We try to have a bath and my kids love to read books together.
william saylor says
Read to the kids and put them to bed same time every night.
Jessica Adams says
My babies are little still, 2 and 1.. but we always stick to the same bedtime routine of shower, pjs, read a book, then go to bed. 🙂
Tiffany Greene Elliott says
I try to have the same routine every night since I am a mom of 7.. Homework,Supper, Bath,Pajamas, Brush teeth, Cuddles and Bedtime stories before bed!! Thanks!!
Stefanie says
Tiffany You are the WINNER! Random.org has chosen you! Please email me at makingofamom@gmail.com with your email address to receive the $30 amazon gift card!
Amanda says
My husband reads books to our son every night. It is their routine for bedtime.
Sheila K. says
Bedtime is s great time because we ALWAYS read!
Kathy Linklater says
Reading books to my kids at night was always a routine.
Aesha T says
My little one knows that I will read her a few pages from her favorite story before bed.
Natalie says
I tell them to turn off the tv one hour before bed.
kelly Hubbard says
Nice hot bath, followed by story time equals sleepy children with a glass of water by bed side in case they get thirsty
Deb Young says
When mine were little a story was always a good way to end the day
Lisa Thurman says
My little one grew up with a routine and now she is old enough to put herself to bed when she gets tired.
Theresa M says
I created the sleep schedule with my children when they were smaller by making sure they had a bath, brushed their teeth and were in bed by 8 pm oclock. We enjoyed the peace at night and the kids did very well once they got into the routine of bedtime schedules.
Megan Naramore-Harris says
We make bedtime an event at our house! We all pile in and read books, cuddle and talk about our day. I love it!
Suzanne Gay says
Reading bedtime stories were always a nightly ritual before bedtime. They got to pick the story every other night (2kids).
YVONNE WOODSTOCK says
From the time my 5 kids were teeny tiny little and all the way thru elementary school, They would start their bedtime routine with a bubble bath and toys in the tub and get their pjs on. Then they would pick out a bedtime story each night and I would snuggle with them and read it (I always used sound effects and changed voices for different characters too which they loved).. then I would tuck each of them into their beds with hugs kisses and blessings and turn out the light and then EACH one of them individually would get to request ANY song they wanted and I sang each of them a song every single night (since I have so many kids and they each got their own song request my mom teased me that it was bedtime concert time lol) and then I had a sound machine with nature sounds and they would choose which sounds they wanted that night on a one hour timer to help them relax and sleep.
Gloria Walshver says
I read a book to my grandsons that inspires them to fall asleep.
Cathy Shaw says
To make bedtime fun, we make it storytime.
donna k says
That Dreams are something to look forward to and to draw them the next morning. Sometimes give them a reason for excitement to go to bed without a fight
Thomas Murphy says
I read stories to my kids before bedtime.
zahra premji says
I dont have kids yet, but whenever I have to put my niece to bed, I always say try and be grown-up and tell her that all the things we do during the day need to be saved into our brain, the same way she has to save her video games when she completes a level. So she needs to sleep in order to give her brain time to save all the new information.
Laura @ Frugal Follies says
We take turns reading a book! And I give them a special series of kisses every night! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Rita Humphrey says
Bedtime for the 3 year old includes lots of stories and snuggling. He gets to decide if he wants background white noise as well. He also gets to pick the books that are read.
Jared Z. says
I always said go to bed when your tired. There is no reason to fall asleep at 8 and toss and turn until 11. Doctors say if you lie in bed more then 1 hr get up and do something. Thats why i go to sleep at 2-3 am.
And look forward too? Well I look forward to teh quiet, they must look forward to cool dreams
Allie says
Probably bath time is the best part of gettin ready for bed
richelle bowers says
my kids know what times they have to go to bed on weekdays and weekends. I also give them a 15 minute warning so they know that it’s coming up
Amy Orvin says
I always provide a different toy to sleep with at bedtime.
Kara says
I fit bedtime within other habits and routines throughout the day. I discuss the importance of balance and structure as a reason for our routines.
Kari says
I think it’s important to gradually let your kids wind down at bedtime and turn off all electronics/tv, etc.
Kyl Neusch says
make it into fun routine
Natalie U says
We make it into a fun routine for the grandkids, they get warm milk, they love cuddling for a little, and they get to watch a little bit of Spongebob
John Leahy says
I do what my own father did — I give a piggy-back ride to bed.
Karla Sceviour says
I discuss sleep habits with my son,by telling him he has to go to sleep at a sensible time,so he can be fully awake and prepared for his day, And with him being in sports,he needs all the sleep and energy he can get.
Kathleen says
I help my daughter look forward to bedtime by letting her play in the bath and reading a book together before bed
kport207 at gmail dot com
Danielle says
How do you make bedtime something to look forward too?
We read a book at bedtime and they are always excited for that.
Lauren O. says
We make bedtime something to look forward to by talking before bed about all the fun things we will do the next day and how going to sleep when we are supposed to will make those things seem to happen sooner My daughter also gets to use her night light lamp.
Stacy says
Every night our children get to pick a book for us to read and then we read a bible story of their choice. Both of my children usually pick one of a few bible stories but it is awesome because they now can tell us the bible story and they are 7 and 4.
Jessica Lodge says
With my 3 year old I start several hours before bedtime and I ask him what time bedtime is and he tells me. We do this quite a few times before bedtime arrives. Then at bedtime we sing our prayers and several other songs, and often Daddy will lay with him until he falls asleep. I think he most looks forward to the songs.
tina reynolds says
We look foward too it because we chat a little say are prayer and read it is very relaxing
Robin says
We usually sing a couple of songs together before going to bed.
Tamar says
We do a ritual of storytime, brushing teeth (which my daughter loves), and hug/kiss time.
Heather B says
My 2 year old son looks forward to bed time now because we always read a couple of books. Work on counting or ABC’s then have some cuddle time.
Teresa Thompson says
The highlight of our bedtime routine is story time. Their favorite part.
Susan Smith says
We make bedtime special by having the same routine every night. We let them take turns picking out books they want us to read. Usually we had gone to library that week they had a lot of new books and were excited to have me read to them and after we read they know it’s time for bed.
Hesper Fry says
We read a book, pray and talk about the quicker we fall asleep the faster tomorrow comes.
Angela Cisco says
When my children were younger, they would have bathtime which they loved. After, we would would read a chapter of a story.
Lisa Weidknecht says
Bedtime is more appealing to children when it comes with routine, reading, and snuggling.
Dana Beeman says
We read every night and I get him a new book twice a month, which he loves.
Sarah L says
Keeping a routine and ending it with reading a book.
Thanks for the contest.
Crystal F says
I snuggle with my daughter. We usually talk about the day when we go to bed and then we snuggle until she falls asleep. I’ve done this with both of my girls and wouldn’t change it for the world. thank you!
Amanda Sakovitz says
I always read them a book before bedtime
Leslie L Stanziani says
We make bedtime a thing to look forward to.We have a snack,brush teeth,cuddle time(sometimes it turns into a tickle fest) and then a story.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
Denise Donaldson says
My daughter looks forward to bed, because we always have story time before bed.
winz135 at gmail.com
Lynda Thomas says
My older son loves bedtime, because we have our routine and he knows what to expect! He sometimes even reminds us what we’re supposed to do next! lol! ~Lynda ilikevindiesel(at)yahoo.com
michelle king says
well this yr our eldest started school so we explained to them all that our sleeping had to change bc we all had to get up ealier
Michaela K says
We have a routine for bedtime which we start about 2hrs before bed. This lets everyone prepare and unwind from a busy and hectic day.
Brittney House says
We make it fun by telling fun bedtime stories and sometimes we make up our own funny adlib ones.
Tommy Gunn says
Bedtime is always something to look forward to. I read my son his favorite stories, I have a great voice for the characters!
Alicia says
I make bedtime fun by reading a book to my son or laying with him and rubbing his back until he falls asleep.