Tis’ the season of family gatherings, parties, fun traditions, and more. It really is my favorite time of year. For some parents, it’s an extremely stressful time especially if you’re balancing all of the holiday fun while running on empty. Let’s talk about the holidays and your child’s sleep. If your kiddo is not a great sleeper, I can help. If you’ve got the sleep thing down, I’ll share tips on keeping it intact while during this season of joy.
Tis’ the season of family gatherings, parties, fun traditions, and more. It really is my favorite time of year. For some parents, it’s an extremely stressful time especially if you’re balancing all of the holiday fun while running on empty. Let’s talk about the holidays and your child’s sleep. If your kiddo is not a great sleeper, I can help. If you’ve got the sleep thing down, I’ll share tips on keeping it intact while during this season of joy.
It’s never too late (or too early) to start laying a foundation for healthy sleep or to start teaching your kiddo to be an amazing sleeper. Just imagine enjoying a 30-minute bedtime routine with your child, tucking them into bed, they drift off into a peaceful slumber and you see them 9-11 hours later.
We all need good, unfragmented sleep to be healthy, happy people. Why not teach your child the skill (yes, it’s a skill that can be taught) so that they will reap the health benefits of a great night’s sleep? And hey, it’s no small bonus to have a few hours to yourself in the evening once your kids are in bed AND for you to get the necessary 7-9 hours of sleep adults need.
Is your child’s sleep a hot mess after summer vacations? Oftentimes there is a change in a baby or toddler’s sleep that is significant enough to allow new habits to creep in. A child’s sleep can go awry for a number of reasons. It might be due to sickness, a change in schedule, or the arrival of a new sibling. But, one of the most common reasons is travel.
Toddlers and preschoolers (and big kids) are master negotiators and have the best stalling tactics. They need an extra trip to the potty, another hug from big brother, a snack, or a sip of water, they are scared. This list goes on and on. They can turn a 30-minute bedtime routine into an hour and a half easily. How do they do it?
The bedtime routine can be a lovely time to connect with your child. It’s not lovely if the routine becomes so long that it eats into the amount of time they need to be sleeping. Or if it prevents you from having time for yourself or your partner each evening. They are both equally important.
If you have more than one kiddo, you’ve probably considered having them share a room. There are pros and cons to room sharing. If you decide to make the plunge, there are several things you can do in preparation for transitioning your kids into the same room that will make the change so much easier and more successful.
Bedtime routines are beneficial for babies, kids, and adults. I have a routine that helps me settle my mind and prepare for bed. Here’s what I do: put on pajamas, wash my face, brush my teeth, put a glass of water on my nightstand (which I almost never drink) and layout my earplugs in case my husband snores, arrange my pillows and think about what I’m grateful for as I drift to sleep. The steps of the routine, which happen in the same order each night, help me anticipate going to sleep. The process is equally important for toddlers and big kids. And hey, if you’ve never had a routine for your kiddo, it’s not too late. Start tonight!
The point of sleep training is to teach your baby or child to fall asleep independently at bedtime and for naps. The goal is that they are not relying on anything external (babies 4 months and older) like a pacifier, bouncing, rocking, or a feed to get them to sleep. In short, no, you cannot sleep train and bed share.
