The problem: You're frustrated with your child's bedtime problems

The scenario: You're tired of your child's whining, so you get angry with your child. Or you give up and let your child fall asleep in front of the TV or in your bed.

The solution: Bedtime battles can test your willpower. But you won't solve the problems if you give in to your child's demands or if you act annoyed or upset.

Try to remember that you're teaching your child an important skill, even if it puts your patience to the test.

When your child behaves well during bedtime, give a reward. For example, you could make a sticker chart to keep track of good nights. Set a bedtime or sleep goal that your child can reach. If the child meets the goal, add a sticker first thing in the morning. Over time, you can set bigger goals.

You also might wonder if there's an app that helps children get better sleep. The developers of many sleep apps say they aim to do that, but they often don't use methods that are backed by research. If you want to try an app, ask your child's health care provider to help you choose.

Some companies also make wearable sleep trackers for children. But many of these devices aren't meant to be used by kids under 5 years old. Wait until your child is older, and a tracker might help the child understand patterns of sleep.

Sleep trackers include devices worn on the wrist. They may be able to give you a sense of how long and how soundly someone sleeps. Trackers that measure movement and things like heart rate may give more-accurate results than do older trackers that measure only motion.

Still, some researchers say to be careful about reading too much into a sleep tracker's results.

Sleep is an important skill for your child to learn. The key is to find a bedtime routine that works. Then stick with it. The payoff will be a good night's sleep for everyone.