Midnight Parenting Tips

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Have you been startled when a little hand pats your face in the middle of deep sleep?

Does a loud crash of thunder send kids running to you in the night?

Kids of all ages are awake at night due to…

Nightmares
Illness
Monsters
Thunderstorms
Excitement over the
- Tooth fairy or Santa
- First day back to school
Teens out with friends, at dances or on dates
Homework or testing
Here are some ways to prepare ahead and avoid searching in the middle of the night for items and information you need.
Help for your midnight parenting strategy…
Prepare a late-night SICK KID KIT to keep under your bed or in your closet that includes…
- Your doctor’s after-hours number and location for care
- Thermometer
- Pain relief and other medicine as well as liquid dispensers
- Paper cups for pills or “I need a drink of water”
- Wipes
- Container for vomit
- A towel and washcloth
- Extra sheets, pillow, and blanket (in case they need sheets changed or in case they will sleep on your bedroom floor)
- Back up daycare information needed if you will have miss work the next day
Keep these handy for frightened or worried kids…
- Books about thunderstorms, or a silly book about monsters
- Nightlight
- Monsters, Inc is a great movie if your child is scared of monsters.
- Keep small flashlights handy to check for
  - Monsters
  - Loud noises
  - Or let the frightened child use it to read books with.
Create a calm bedtime PLAN when excitement is high (Tooth fairy, Santa, First day of school, etc…)
- Get some physical exercise before dinner.
- Enjoy a favorite dinner with dim lights or light music.
- Have kids take a bath or shower before getting pajamas on.
- Start bedtime early and leave time for a few extra books or chatting.
- Try some yoga poses!
- Nightstand pad and paper. This one is good for parents and kids.
  - Write or draw about a problem that wakes you up so you can make a plan to solve it in the morning.
Create a homework/study routine.
- Double-check that homework is complete and ready to go well before bedtime.
- If homework worries are a regular problem, it may be time to set up a plan or routine to help kids feel on track.
- Meet with the teacher if a student is struggling with difficult or too much homework each night.
Have a PLAN for teens who will be out late. (This will help lower parent anxiety at night.)
- Will they have a curfew?
- Should they text you when they arrive at their destination?
- Will you need any other parents’ phone numbers or information?
- Will you be available if something goes wrong? (Not in a movie theater with your phone turned off, as I did once?)
Now you can add some zzz’s to your sleepless nights by…
- having some necessary gear prepared in your bedroom
- setting up night time plans and routines