Your child’s bedroom should be their sanctuary. Like adults, children have a lot to deal with many in their busy day, so it’s important their bedroom is a safe haven to study, play, and fall asleep in.

Here are some tips on how to enhance your children’s bedroom environment and establish a good bedtime and sleep routine.

• Choose a relaxing colour and avoid using too many colours in the one room. Use various hues and shades of the same colour if possible for feature work.
• Lighting should be reminiscent of daylight during the day and soft and gentle in the evening.
• Let your child's bedroom reflect his or her interests and personality. Put some of their own artwork on the walls and any trophies or awards on a special shelf. Just be careful that bedroom decorations don’t become overstimulating.
• Organise children’s toys efficiently. This will help reduce clutter and disorder.
• Allow room around your child’s bed so they do not feel boxed in.
• Use minimal auditory stimulation in your child’s bedroom. Use “white noise” for soothing a child and blocking out household sounds. A fan or fish tank are good options.
• Allow a child to sleep with a night-light on. Night-lights help remind children they are in a safe bedroom. Choose a dim nightlight, with just enough light to let off a glow to see around. Too much light at night can interfere with sleep patterns.
• Create a bedtime routine that is calm and peaceful and allow plenty of time to work through this routine. For example, bath, pyjamas, teeth, story, hug etc. If a child is overstimulated before bed, they may not be prepared for sleep.
• Encourage your child to play in their bedroom during the day on their own, with friends and with you. If children are unfamiliar with their bedroom and only go in the room to sleep, they will not feel comfortable or safe at night.
• Reward good sleep. Make a "sleeping chart" to reinforce positive bedtime behaviour.
• Allow natural light and air into your child’s bedroom. Good air circulation improves the air quality and atmosphere of a room.
• When you purchase new bedroom furniture, make sure it meets today’s safety standards.
• Ensure toddler beds are equipped with bed rails.
• Position beds away from windows, heating vents, radiators, lamps, curtains or window-blind cords.
• Make sure your child is sleeping on a mattress suitable for their body.
• Buy bed linen that your child likes – they will be more inclined to want to go to bed!
• Children’s bed linen should be machine washable, soft and made from natural fibres. Pillow protectors protect kids from dust mites and other allergens. A quality stain-resistant mattress protector will not only protect against accidents, but many are hypoallergenic.

Related:

• Bedshed Kids Bedroom Furniture & Mattresses
• How much sleep do we need? (by age)