As parents ourselves, we understand how bedtime can sometimes feel like a battlefield. And in some cases, that may mean more than some occasional resistance to heading off to sleep. Insomnia is common in people of all ages and can affect children just as much as adults, and as a parent, it can be a hard condition to manage. At 5 Little Monkeys, we've worked hard to design one of the best kids mattresses on the market to help kids everywhere get a better night sleep – but if your little one is dealing with child insomnia, there are a number of natural sleep remedies you can try to alleviate the condition.
Natural Ways to Treat Childhood Insomnia
Is your little one struggling to fall asleep at night beyond the usual resistance to bedtime? The first step is always to examine critical sleep hygiene factors like bedtime routine, daily activity, and your child's mattress, but if your child is still struggling with insomnia, try these natural sleep remedies that are safe for kids:
- Lavender: Besides being a favorite scent for air fresheners and shampoos everywhere, lavender is a common ingredient in aromatherapy due to its calming, soothing aroma. Spritzing your child's pillow with lavender essential oil or using a lavender lotion before bed can help your child wind down and feel the calm they need to go to sleep.
- Magnesium: In addition to being an important nutrient for day-to-day health, magnesium can act as a muscle relaxant and have a calming effect on the central nervous system. A magnesium supplement about an hour before bedtime can help your child relax and calm down before bed.
- Chamomile: Chamomile has long been used as an herbal remedy for calm and relaxation, and a warm glass of chamomile tea is a great way to soothe child sleep anxiety and help kids fall asleep. If your child is older than 12 months, adding a small spoonful of honey can help make the tea tastier.
Learn More About Our Highly-Reviewed Kids Mattress
These natural remedies can work well to combat child sleep anxiety or child insomnia, but in addition to remedies like these, it's important to consider other factors in your child's sleep hygiene like daily activity, diet, and your child's mattress. Thankfully, 5 Little Monkeys can help with that: we've built a parent-approved kids mattress from the ground up, specially designed to give growing bodies exactly what they need for healthy, restful sleep. Take our 100-Night Rest Test and try the 5 Little Monkeys bed completely risk-free today!