Striking a Balance between Life & Sleep
A common concern for parents before or after deciding to prioritize healthier sleep habits for their children is what life looks like after those habits are established. Whenever working with a family that is in the process of formally working on sleep habits, I request that they commit at least 2 weeks to this new normal which usually includes staying home more so naps can be in their designated sleep space and committing to an age-appropriate schedule for naps and bedtime.
But, what about after those two weeks? What happens over the holidays, when traveling, or when birthday parties, fun outings, or appointments occur. Do families have to say no to a fun day because their child is still taking multiple naps? Can they not go out for a later dinner with friends because of bedtime? What if this is the second, or third child – are the older siblings house bound because of baby’s nap schedule??
Absolutely not.
We may not be able to say yes to everything but I would never want parents to feel like establishing these new sleep habits means they are housebound until their child no longer naps. There are a few things parents can do to maintain some flexibility and still protect their child’s sleep.
Start Rested
First, as noted above, it’s best to wait until strong sleep habits are cemented before making adjustments. Well rested children are typically much more adaptable to changes than overtired kiddos.
For babies on a 3-nap schedule – Take the 3rd nap on the road!
I know how daunting it is to stay home and prioritize naps before your baby drops their third nap (sometime between 6-9 months). The time between naps isn’t very long and it’s easy to start feeling like you are in nap jail. For babies taking three naps, I typically recommend the third nap being on the go, as it is usually a short nap that just helps your baby bridge the gap to bedtime. Even when our baby still needs that third nap, it can be the hardest one for them to fall asleep for. So, taking it on the go can help encourage that nap and it allows for some extra flexibility for the family. As long as it is working for your child to have that nap on the go, then utilize that flexibility to be out!
Follow the 80/20 Rule
I like to tell clients to use the 80/20 rule when making life plans that can interfere with their child’s sleep needs. By prioritizing sleep 80% of the time, the 20% of spontaneity, naps on the go, or later bedtimes shouldn’t throw things off too much. We still want to be mindful of their sleep during that 20%. For example, if you had a big day and your child missed a nap, then shoot for an early bedtime to compensate for that missed nap. If you know they will be up late, make it a priority to get their nap(s) in earlier in the day and the next day.
Get to know YOUR child
Part of this is also experimenting and getting to know your child and how sensitive they are to their sleep requirements. One child may be fine with many naps on the go but another may start depending on the motion to sleep and have trouble sleeping in their crib. One child may sleep in a bit with a late bedtime (lucky parents!) while another may wake up earlier the next day and be a total crank all day. Every child is different and you’ll never know how flexible your child is until you try. They may surprise you! So, you have my permission to say yes to that dinner, or that party, or that fun outing, make those family memories, you all deserve it!!
But, Autumn, my child’s sleep is a mess – I don’t even know where to start.
If your child is…
regularly waking too early (before 6 a.m.)
waking you up all night
taking forever to fall asleep
taking short naps, crying when waking from naps, is overly fussy and tired all day…
Let’s get your little one some healthier sleep habits in place! Book a free 15-minute introductory call with me to learn about the ways I can help your family get the rest you ALL need to thrive.
