With just four days to go until the big day, many of us are wondering how on earth we’re going to get our little ones to sleep this Christmas Eve
From leaving midnight snacks out for Santa and his reindeer to late-night carol singing, there are lots of reasons why bedtime routines might fall into disarray on Christmas Eve. Getting children to go to bed (and stay there) can be challenging at the best of times, without all the excitement of the following day. With that in mind, sleep expert and co-founder of Sleepio, professor Colin Espie from the University of Oxford, shares his tips for getting the little ones off to sleep before Santa arrives.
1. Be active during the day

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night, and for children that is no exception. “One Australian study found that every hour a child spends inactive adds three minutes to the time taken to nod off,” says Espie. “Take a break from Christmas movies and head to the park to help expend excess energy in good time before bed.” 2. Stick to bedtime routines and rituals 

A consistent bedtime routine before lights out will signal that it’s time to go to sleep: “If you’re staying away from home, find ways to recreate parts of the routine, even if they are happening later than usual,” says Espie. “Preparing for bed in the same order each night (such as bath, brushin...