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Natural Awakenings National

Natural Sleep Aids for Kids: Turning off the computer and TV early and a cup of herbal tea help prepare for bedtime

Various factors may cause a child’s sleeplessness, so before reaching for conventional drugs and sleep medications, parents may want to first consider changing a child’s bedtime routine. For example, try turning off the television and computer a couple of hours before bedtime to avoid overstimulation. It also helps to keep the child’s bedroom as calm and stress-free as possible; aromatherapy-scented pillows, soaps and lotions that work best include lavender, sage and chamomile.

Homeopathic remedies are another option; practitioners advise that such gentler medications are usually well tolerated by children. Choices include Kali phosphoricum for overstimulation, Magnesium phosphoricum to calm a child and to relieve colic, and Passiflora incarnata for a child who is too tired to go to sleep. Another natural sleep aid is an herbal tea made from chamomile, passion flower and valerian an hour before bedtime. Before implementing any herbal remedy for a good night’s sleep, parents should consult a certified herbalist to ensure they are administering it correctly for the child’s age and weight.

Sources: www.EduBook.com, www.eHow.com, www.HerbalRemediesInfo.com

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