REPOSTING a picture of our night time routine - maybe other's will be inspired...

I'll give you the whole picture of our night time as we had suffered for years from night issues. After an early dinner, I start dimming lights, slowing down and picking/cleaning up.
All screens go away/off - this was and is the worst culprit for poor sleep for us.

I put on lullaby cd (gorgeous soothing music we all love) quietly in the background.

On days needed I will prepare warm epsom salt baths (great for magnesium uptake) and finish with all over oil massage - calming oil combos.

We take a product called Baby calm Peter Gilham makes it -it is good on it's own  but I add cup of chamomile tea and valerian with tulsi. I also rub valerian and or lavender essential oils on their feet especially between their toes. They ask for this if I'm not right on it - and they make sure I get both feet and each toe - so they are enjoying it greatly and within minutes they are out and happily sleeping. I notice they also wake in much better moods. It may seem like a lot but it's about 20 minutes of a simple soothing ritual that helps me too - to get present and be grounded.

  I will tell you, because we have had trauma and rough experiences at times I will add EFT (tapping technique) to the routine especially if I see there is residual effects hanging around - from a loss or upset or just a tough day. It's fast, easy, effective. The other thing is - I don't read stories to them at night - I tell them a story - I literally sit for a moment and ask for guidance to share a story that will best support my children - and it just starts to flow. It took a bit of confidence and practice but now it's a treasure for me and them. A couple of  nights ago I actually finished the story and my 7 year old said, "mom that was a really really good story. thanks for that" magical words.