Parents should develop a bedtime ritual that includes three or four quiet activities such as taking a bath, having a light snack, and reading a story. These bedtime activities should be performed every night. Parents should continue to monitor their children to determine if their children are getting enough sleep with the adjusted bedtime. If not, parents can use the same method to adjust the bedtime some more. If children are awakened by disruptions such as too much light or noise, or hunger, parents can take steps to eliminate such problems.
Some children are sensitive to early morning light and are awakened by it.
Parents should try to keep their children's rooms dark in the morning. They can try using a thick window shade or a curtain over bedroom windows. This may help children sleep later. Some children are awakened early by noise, either from outside or inside the house. Outside noise can be minimized by keeping windows closed or by muffling sound by hanging a blanket or a heavy curtain in front of windows.