I’m a child health expert – the five steps to take to get your toddler to calm down before bed so they actually sleep

Each child is different and needs a different amount of sleep depending on their age, but these easy steps can make the evenings a little easier for parents.

Just like adults, children need enough time to wind down before being put to bed.

One step to take is to ensure they have enough time to properly wind down after a busy day.

The expert recommends one to two hours to transition toddlers into bed time.

And it's just as important that parents take the time to wind down and be more present to help toddlers feel calmer.

Dr Henderson explains: "Our children are like barometers of household tension after all.

"If we want our children to wind down, we need to make an effort to switch off - from our phones, our work emails and from the many other sources or distraction competing for our attention."

We've all been told to turn our screens off before going to bed because the blue light stops our brains from producing melatonin, our body's sleep hormone.

So the expert suggests turning it off 60 to 90 minutes before bed to ensure children get a good night's sleep.

Music and meditation can also help get your child into the land of nod claims the expert.

She adds that slow-paced music, of around 60 beats per minute, can help their breath, heart rate, brain waves, and relax their muscles.