When it comes to brushing, bathing, and winding down, this can be an especially challenging time for children with sensory challenges. Different sounds, textures, and temperatures associated with regular evening wind-down activities can be rather overstimulating for some children. Luckily, building a sensory-friendly routine before bedtime can change those chaotic nights into calm ones for the whole household.
What changes can I make to make bedtime easier for my sensitive child?
- Build a consistent routine. Routines help both parents and children save a lot of mental energy by knowing what comes next and when. Routine also helps children feel in control, knowing there is stability and predictability when it comes to evenings. Start with teeth-brushing, followed by bath time, and end with a cozy bedtime story. Keeping the order the same every night will help calm minds rather than overstimulate them.
- Creating a calm and sensory-friendly cozy environment. Simple changes like dim lighting, soft music/white noise, or even removing the clothing labels from pyjamas can make bedtime less overstimulating. Changes like installing blackout curtains or investing in a weighted blanket can improve the quality of sleep for busy minds.
- Allow children to make decisions; giving them a sense of control is likely to make them feel more at ease. Whether it be their toothbrush, a song to play, or picking their bedtime story, allowing children to make active choices in their bedtime routine will encourage cooperation rather than resistance.
- Brushing breaks. Two minutes of strange textures, tingly minty flavours and pressure on one’s teeth can simply be too much at once for some children. Allow children to take breaks, or even let them practice brushing before helping them finish.
Remember, evenings are full of sensory challenges, but luckily, there are tools specifically designed to help alleviate them. Something as simple as finding the right toothbrush for your child can have significant positive effects, making your bedtime routine much simpler. Learn more about how Trio Teeth are helping to reduce sensory overload in their sensory-friendly brushing guide.
15 July, 2026
