The most magical moments of the holiday season often come from watching loved ones soak up the joy and togetherness around them. But once the festivities wind down, helping children transition from excitement to rest can be a challenge. Between family gatherings, sweet treats, and the excitement of the holidays, it can be hard to ensure your child calms down enough to get the rest they need. If bedtime feels especially tough after a celebration, try experimenting with these calming strategies to find what works best for your child.
Create a Gentle Transition
Shifting directly from high-energy fun to bedtime can feel abrupt, especially for children. Creating a buffer of time between excitement and sleep can help ease the transition. During this time, encourage calming activities like coloring, reading, or cuddling. Dimming the lights and lowering noise can also help signal that bedtime is approaching.
Even during busy holiday schedules, sticking to familiar bedtime routines is key. Simple rituals — brushing teeth, reading a favorite book, or singing a bedtime song — can help children feel grounded and secure as they prepare for sleep.
Encourage Calm Movement
If your child still has leftover energy, gentle movement before bed can help release it without adding stimulation. Stretching or kid-friendly yoga poses are a great option. You might also try a slow walk around the house or, if it is warm enough, outside. These calm activities help children unwind while naturally preparing their bodies for rest.
Balance After Sugar
After a day filled with sweets, it may be tempting to restrict treats altogether. Instead, aim for balance. Offer hydrating drinks like water or herbal teas and try pairing sweets earlier in the day with protein or fiber-rich snacks. Before bedtime, encourage a nourishing meal or snack to help support steadier energy levels and a calmer night.
Reassure and Reconnect
Big gatherings and holiday celebrations can be very emotionally stimulating as well as physically exciting. Before bed, take a few minutes just talking and cuddling one-on-one with your child. Acknowledge big feelings and reassure them that everything they are feeling is valid. End the day with a familiar phrase, song, or ritual that signals safety and calm.
Homeopathic Help
When settling down for the night needs more than a gentle touch, homeopathic options may help. If too many sweets lead to pressure, discomfort, or pain associated with gas*, GasCalm can be used for children ages 6 and up. These easy-to-take tablets take a one-size-fits-all approach to gas-related symptoms.
To help your child fall asleep and stay asleep, use SleepCalm Kids Meltaway Pellets. This homeopathic sleep aid uses a blend of plant-based and other pure active ingredients to help restore a healthy sleep pattern disrupted by upsets, excitement, and schedule changes, for ages 3 and up.*
And if you’re the one feeling frazzled while trying to calm your little one, try StressCalm. This non-drowsy medicine relieves occasional nervous tension, irritability, hypersensitivity, and fatigue due to everyday stress.*
The holidays are filled with laughter and celebration, but all that excitement can linger well past bedtime. By combining calming routines with gentle support when needed, you can help your little ones wind down and get the rest they deserve. Learn more about these products and keep them on hand for the busy holiday season by visiting BoironUSA.com.
*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.
