Bedtime tips for new foster parents

Bedtime can be hard for kids from babies to teens in foster care because of their past traumatic experiences and being separated from their parents.

I found this to be one of the hardest parts of being a new foster parent who had never parented before. I had read about sleep routines and creating a sleep environment that was conducive to sleep but I quickly realized that was only like 10% of it!!

I hope this is a starting point for new foster parents as they navigate bedtime. Let me know what types of things come up for you in the comments below!

#fosterparent #fostercare #bedtime

[foster.parenting]

HI!:) Thanks for watching. Just a reminder that this month (November) I am asking for my community members to join me in purchasing holiday gifts for teens impacted by the system. Thank you for considering! 👇

[Janne_Mai]

The idea of a check in made me cry. Especially with the stuffed koala. This is so sweet and I bet it's helpful to many kids.

[koellekind]

I have tears in my eyes with the last scene. Thinking there are children who are so very alone and scared and would have a kind and safe person by their side until they fall asleep. :'-) Thank you for being you.❤❤❤

[DZombieDragon]

Those last parts are so important for kids.

Before my dad left, he had a similar set up with me for checking in on me. He worked long hours, and sometimes, he wouldn’t be home before I went to bed, or he would be gone before I woke up.

I felt so anxious about going to bed without saying good night to him (I would literally wait at the front door watching the garage door when it came close to bedtime), so he promised me that every night he came to check in on me, he would take one of my teddy bears from the door and put it in bed with me. That little gesture meant so much to me when I was a kid, and it made me feel so secure, knowing that he had come home. Sometimes, he would sit with me at night if I woke up from a nightmare.

The first night that it didn’t happen after he was forced to leave when I was seven, I was in tears. My mother couldn’t be bothered to care how I was feeling, and just berated me for crying over him.

[Sage_leaves-xw]

Hi I’m a child (14) and these give me so much comfort don’t know why exactly but thank you

[amandamelvin]

All of those ideas are really great. Sometimes people don't realize how the little things mean so much to children, especially when there's tough situations going on. Thank you for your help with children in the system. I hope every foster parent is just as kind and thoughtful as you are. ❤

[violinflowerbot]

That last scene is making me cry oh my goodness...my parents would always shame me if I asked for that as a kid
Thank you so much for doing what you do 💛💛💛

[violetyoung]

I'm planning on not having children of my own, but want to be a foster parent. Your videos have been super encouraging for me once im in the position to foster!

[nicolettagilbert]

What you do is amazing. I admire the dedication, the patience, the kindness, the strength it has to take.
Thank you for giving us insights into great parenting and thank you even more for giving these kids a safe home, care and hope ❤

[Nymeria..]

This woman and her husband are literal angels. So kind and considerate. Compassionate is just out of this world. I wish all foster families were like them. I also hope anyone new to it or thinking about registering to foster finds her channel and really leans in to her advice ❤❤❤

[ameliavelasco]

Squirrels on the roof is quite an alarming sound!! 😂

[eutherq]

I'm an adult, but it feels so comforting listening to you doing those things. I bet they would have helped a lot of (foster) children ❤

[oakalakaleah]

I wish you were my mom when I was a kid! So gentle and caring, I could cry for what I didn’t have. I’m an older woman now and I so appreciate your videos. I raised my kids with gentleness…they are both well-adjusted adults now, one with a child of his own, whom he cares for lovingly.

[claudiashundeservice]

The last scene reminds me of my grandpa 25 years ago. He stayed by my side and held my hand the night when I went to a new school the next morning. I was so nervous, I couldn't sleep.
Thanks for reminding me of him❤

[ceb]

Yet again—you bring in the patience, understanding, and compassion that all parents should have. Not just foster parents.

[shericeREH]

You are a godsend utterly amazing communication skills with the littles children and teenagers I worked in the mental health care foster care residential and wraparound services for over 35 years you're amazing

[Nocturnalhaven.]

Why do I find these videos comforting?

[aeriontaylor]

"What happened/happens next?" BEST WORDS for anyone to hear. Everyone wants to be seen and heard ❤ you're awesome ❤

[FlyingDubja]

I’ve been watching you for a while and honestly I feel like a lot of these tips are good for just raising children in general. You’re a wonderful mother 💕

[AliciaMessinger]

Gosh, waking up to a note from someone who cared would've meant the world to me as a kid.