We know little ones can get very excited in the run up to Christmas ? here’s how to make sure they actually sleep the night before the big day.

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, Walton Holcomb, a sleep expert at thedozyowl.co.uk, and the experts at Bed Kingdom have provided their best tips to help parents settle their children ahead of Santa?s arrival.
Keep Them Away From Sugary Foods After Midday
While it may seem a tricky task, it will prove much more of a challenge trying to get the children to sleep if they?ve had high-sugar foods near bedtime. By causing excess energy production, they will be overstimulated and therefore be kept awake resulting in disruptions during the night. Instead, try sugar-free jelly or juice with no added sugar if you need to satisfy their sweet tooth after midday. 
Keeping Them up Late will Prevent a Good Night?s Sleep
While it may seem like a later bedtime will help your child to sleep better at night, it will in fact do the opposite. Young children who are overtired will find it much more difficult to get some shut eye, and it will only prevent them from getting enough sleep if you plan on waking up particularly early on Christmas Day....