Christmas - the most magical time of the year, but also the time when children's sleep patterns are likely to be disrupted! Here are some tips to keep your kid's sleep on track from Liz Dowen at Cottonsafe® Natural Mattress based in Woodbury, Devon. Liz is a qualified Sleep Practitioner for The Children's Sleep Charity.

Where possible continue with your bedtime routine and try to stick to regular bedtimes and waking up times.

Christmas often means more TV and opportunities to play on tablets and mobile phones. Research suggests that the blue light omitted from screens can interfere with melatonin production, the hormone that makes us feel drowsy at night time. Screen activities can also be mentally stimulating, so try and limit any screen use for the hour before bed.

Pre-bedtime activities are important to help your child to wind down before bed. Ideal activities are colouring in, building bricks, model making, threading or jigsaws.

Avoid sugar loaded food in the run up to bedtime. Better options are things like dairy products, wholemeal toast or porridge.

Don't forget that the bedroom environment should be calming rather than stimulating, so try and remove or cover new toys to reduce excitement and distraction. Keeping the bedroom cool is also important, around 18 degrees is ideal.

Make sure your child is comfy by checking that the bed frame and mattress is still supportive and suitable for their age. Choose a Cottonsafe® Children's Mattress for a chemical free, comfy night!