Rise and Shine: The Power of Morning Sun

Preparation for a good bedtime begins first thing in the morning: strong morning light combined with a morning meal helps program the body’s internal clock. Strong morning light exposure tells your child’s brain that it’s time to wake up, and also helps your child feel sleepy come bedtime—exactly what you want, right? This is one of those “why in the world wouldn’t you?” tips, because with very minimal effort you can help increase your child’s drive for sleep. Sounds pretty nice, right? Here’s how:

• Start your child's day with at least fifteen minutes of strong light. Open the curtains let the light stream in.

• If you live in a home that doesn’t get much light, head outside. Even a brief morning stroll will make a big impact on your child’s biorhythms.

• For maximum results, combine morning light with nourishment: serve a healthful breakfast in the sunniest spot in the house.

•  Nursing moms can help improve their sleep (and that of their little one) by nursing in a sunny spot (near a window or underneath a skylight) at a consistent time each morning.

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Need more sleep? My e-book Ready, Set, Sleep: 50 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep So You Can Sleep Too is chock-full of mom-tested solutions to help babies and toddlers start sleeping well, tonight!