Today, Tonight, and Tomorrow
It takes a special kind of patience to handle children’s middle-of-the-night wakeups! Read about how a Monster-Fairy family manages it.
You may already be familiar with the themes in this story, especially if your little one ever:
- comes to you in the middle of the night and needs help falling back asleep
- has big feelings about events and experiences during the day that seem to affect their sleep
For young children, sleep struggles — whether at bedtime or throughout the night — are common. Share this storybook with your little one and notice how Rudy’s dad and stepmom help him soothe himself back to sleep.
Afterward, you might talk together about:
- all the steps in their bedtime routine
- why Rudy may have had a hard time staying asleep and how he may have been feeling
- what helps your child fall back asleep (next time it’s needed, consider one of the strategies in the story: belly breaths, cuddles, singing, humming or talking to a lovey, or imagining positive things about the next day)
And check out this video in which Elmo’s daddy, Louie, helps Elmo (and himself!) handle the same situation. For more tips check out this resource.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you’re concerned about your child’s sleep. Here’s to peaceful nights for the whole family!
Lessening Children’s Fear of Needles
Preparing, distracting, and comforting your child can go a long way in helping them get through these moments.
To Like or Not to Like
Like most children, Cookie Monster’s niece is a little… choosy. Check out his strategy for helping her try a new food!
Go To Sleep, Elmo!
Handling a middle-of-the-night monster moment.
Cookie Monster’s Beach Day
When children are in the hospital, their imagination can become a valuable tool in soothing themselves.
Listen, Feel, and See with Elmo
When children are in the hospital, this mindfulness game can help them soothe themselves.
Sleep Struggles... and Successes
