Gone are the days when my son would freely fall asleep as soon as the light is turned off. Now that he is older, it's a bit more complicated than that. We need to slowly pace his activities to prepare him for bed. A routine which all of us have grown accustomed to.

After active play, we make the slow transition by switching the activity to a short viewing of Barney or Blues' Clues. A few minutes afterwhich, we change his diaper and put on his pyjamas. A trip to the bathroom for brushing his teeth follows. We then go around the house and let him turn off the lights. In bed, we read together 1 book. As soon as 1 short story is done, we ask for a kiss, say goodnight and then, turn off the light. It works.

Children feel more secure and in control when they know what to expect, hence the need for routine. Bedtime routines are especially important to help them relax, slow down and get a good sleep.

A good night's sleep is important...

Children's health and behavior take a nose dive when their sleep habits are out of whack. Insufficient sleep makes children short-tempered and whiny. In school, a sleep-deprived child has trouble with concentration, memory, physical performance and decision making.

Here are a few ideas from BabyCenter from which you can choose the best routine which would fit your child's needs.

Need some tips on which books to read to your child to help them look forward to bedtime? Main Street Mom's 10 Great Bedtime Stories to Read Aloud could work for you.

Now, wouldn't it be fine and dandy to have all that down to pat so you and your partner can have the quality time that you need?