Bedtime

The Dreaded Bedtime!

Bedtime is one of the hardest times of the babysitting day. The kids normally don't want to go to bed, are whiny, miss their parents or say that they aren't tried. Here are some tips to make bedtime easier. The key is to make sure that the kids are not too hyper before they are to go to bed - this plan will make sure that they aren't.

Follow this routine:

* Get dressed for bed

* Watch some TV

* Give the kids a glass of milk (it really helps them sleep) But make sure that they aren't allergic! If so, give the other child some juice or water.

* Read them a story before they go to bed. To avoid fights, let each child pick one or two books each (depending on how much time you have to read).

* Put both the kids to bed. The best thing is to put them both to bed at the same time, but if one child is allowed to stay up later than the other, make sure that the child who's staying up later is far away from the other child, watching tv or reading a book, so that the child who has to go to bed is not upset by seeing the older child up and doing something. But if it's at all possible, try to get both the kids in bed at the same time.

* After all kids are in bed, go to the family room or living room and work on homework or read a book, because the kids feel as if we're having a party as soon as they're in bed. Check on them every once in a while until you're sure they're asleep before you turn on the TV or a movie.