How to help your child sleep in the lighter Summer nights.
- Jade Sleep Nanny
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
It's such a turnaround here in the UK when we see these lighter nights and mornings. I do think it is a huge mood booster for many!
But - it can bring some disruption to our little one's sleep, and they can struggle to fall asleep the same in the lighter summer nights.
Our bodies run on an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm, which is largely influenced by light exposure. Bright light, especially the natural light from the sun, suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin, which helps our brains and bodies transition into sleep mode.
In the summer, when it stays light well into the evening (in some places, past 9 p.m.), that melatonin release can be delayed—especially for kids, who are still developing consistent sleep patterns.
The result?
Trouble falling asleep
Resistance at bedtime
Shorter sleep duration
Daytime irritability or meltdowns
So how can we manage it? Here are some tips below.
1. Start to darken the house 30 minutes before bedtime. Whether that be the living room blinds or the upstairs area. This helps kick start their melatonin production!
2. Black out blinds are almost essential! I also recommend the Tommee Tippee stick on blinds, they are great for travelling too.
3. Darkening the room this way is also essential for the mornings. No one wants to be up at 4/5am when it starts to get light in the peak of summer!
4. Use the evenings to do a walk after dinner. It gets the last of the energy out and the fresh air is great for sleep. 5. Sleep/Wake Clocks can be a great visual tool to help keep their body clock in line. I recommend ones where you can set the light as Red for bedtime, and Green for waking time! This also resonates with toddlers where red means stop, and green means go!
Keep the routines and timings consistent where you can to help their circadian rhythm.
Enjoy the summer moments whilst you can, but their body clocks may need some support to keep things on track! Are you struggling in the wind down? I'm here if you need a chat anytime.
Jade
Download the Free SUMMER SLEEP GUIDE here.
Comments