How to Use Sunlight and Melatonin for Kids Sleep Improvements This Summer

While it’s tempting to stay inside all day long, basking in the comfort of your air condition, I want to remind you, that just a few months ago, we were both begging the sun to come out. And now that it’s here, you can actually use the sunlight and melatonin for kids to improve your child’s sleep!

Use Sunlight and Melatonin for Kids Sleep Improvements

I was chatting with a friend on a park bench the other day reminiscing about a conversation we had years earlier. She had been having trouble getting her baby to sleep, so I shared with her some tips about sunshine + sleep.

She commented on however since that day when her kids aren’t sleeping well, she makes a bigger effort to get them some sunshine, and PRESTO! They’re sleeping again.

Now that the temps are going to flirt with the idea of melting you on a daily basis, you might as well, turn the tables and get what YOU want out of the sun, instead of being victim to its scorching ability.

The summer is actually prime time for a few parenting tips and tricks that are fool-proof. One of my very favorites is getting your little pun-kin to sleep better! I love a sleeping baby!

Well, I mean… I love any baby, but… come on. A well-rested baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby smiles really big, and really big smiles mean kissable cheeks! 🙂

Here’s the basic, no-non-sense breakdown of how the sun helps your child sleep better: Sun > Serotonin > Melatonin > Deep – Restorative Sleep.

Let’s break it down just a smidgen more, shall we?

How The Summer Sun Helps Your Child Sleep Better.

Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin in your child’s brain. Serotonin improves your child’s mood and significantly increases her level of vitamin D.

Then, several hours after a sunlight-induced spike in serotonin, that serotonin is converted into melatonin. Can you guess what melatonin does?? Yuppers… melatonin tells your child’s body to SLEEP!

Melatonin is suppressed by sunlight, and therefore released when it’s dark. So when she’s had lots of sunshine, then it goes away…. whoosh… in comes a surge of melatonin!

The higher the melatonin levels, the better your child sleeps! The better your child sleeps, the happier she’ll be. Deep – restorative sunlight and melatonin for kids’ sleep help your child’s brain to be equipped and ready to learn, grown, and develop!

Just How Exactly To Use Those Summer Sun Powers

Lay It Out For Me.

OK… here you go.

First, take your child outside!

Then, that’s it! OK, OK… maybe it’s not THAT simple. But, almost.

Being intentional to take the step of just opening the door, placing a blanket on the grass, and laying there, will already have your little one headed towards better sleep! Really… it will!

Create a Sleep Improvement Plan

Start like this:

1. After a nutritious breakfast, head outside with a blanket. Look for a spot in full sun. Layout your blanket and play with your little one. Let her explore around as much as she’d like.

2. After about 30 minutes, move to a shaded spot. Continue playing, letting her wander in and out of the shade.

3. If you have more than an hour to spend, by all means, stay outside! If you (or baby) are just too miserable, go inside.

4. Repeat in intervals throughout the day. If you need to work on a schedule for your baby, I have a super helpful chart for creating a perfect baby schedule here.

Then, End like this:

5. Bring your child inside a couple of hours before bedtime. Make sure she has a nutritious dinner, full of healthy fats.

6. Take her through a predictable, fun, and relaxing bedtime routine. If you need to work on sleep training or bedtime routines, spend some time on that.

7. Make her room as dark as possible and a perfectly cool temperature! (remember, darkness brings about the melatonin) While it stays lighter – later in the summertime, by making your child’s room dark, you can get what you want out of the sun, then manipulate its power to work in your favor, by “turning it off” with a dark bedroom! Use room-darkening curtains like this, and I also used a sound machine like this for my babies.

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8. Put her to bed.

Are bedtimes a struggle? Read here.

Think about it. You’ve noticed how a day at the pool wears you out, right? You kinda think it’s because you were busy playing and having fun. While that’s also true… more so, the sunshine is why you are so sleepy!

Or think about vacation. A day at the beach always results in a good night’s sleep. Again, it’s easy to give “playing” or “being on vacation” all the credit, but it has a lot more to do with those lovely little hormones, our friends, serotonin, and melatonin!

Makes perfect sense, right!?

What About Sunscreen?

I have an opinion on sunscreen. Everyone does. I think it’s more than safe to say, it’s necessary. Endless unchecked exposure to unfiltered sun rays can be harmful! Particularly if your little one is fair.

However, I’ve studied much research on the negative effects of not getting enough sunshine. Low levels of vitamin D being the most alarming. Perhaps when you have some extra time it would be “worth a google” to search the term “negative effects of low vitamin D and sunshine.” my favorite resource to read about sunshine and vitamin d is this guy

This is What I Do

1. I try hard to remember to put sunscreen on my children’s faces from the get-go! They don’t play outside much, without sunscreen on their faces. Our faces are front-and-center all day, every day. And indeed, skin cancer is most likely to show up on our faces as a result.

2. For the first 20 minutes or so that they are outside, I don’t put sunscreen anywhere else. That means, about 90% of their bodies are exposed to full sun for about 20 minutes.

3. Once that 20 minutes is over (yes, I DO typically set a timer) I put sunscreen on their shoulders, back, arms, and tummy (if it’s bare,) leaving their legs sunscreen-free.

4. Then, lastly, after being outside for a total of 40 minutes, I’ll make sure they are 100% covered in sunscreen the rest of the time they are outside. This is the sunscreen I use. The ingredients are surprisingly simple and it’s easy to find in most stores.

Another even better alternative is UPF clothing, like this. Using UPF clothing is the best way to form a physical barrier with the sun, while still enjoying its benefits and not being concerned about chemical ingredients in sunscreen.

A Well-Rested Child!

Certain seasons and times of the year make parenting tasks easier or offer tools we can take advantage of to be working on our child’s behavior, health, and development. As a result, sunlight and melatonin for kids sleep are great for sleep training, improving sleep, and working on sleep habits.

Get your child outside, use sunscreen wisely, fill up her serotonin tank, and use the summer sun to improve your child’s sleep!

Want to use the summer sun to improve picky eating habits, too? Read here!