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If you read this blog regularly, you’ve probably heard me say that getting enough sleep is an important part of making sure your child gets enough sleep.
In fact, you’ve probably heard me say it a few times.
I’ll just throw it in there again, real quick, and then we’ll move on. Schedules are your child’s best friend when it comes to sleeping, sleeping, and getting the quality rest they need.
However, as any parent knows, a schedule is good in theory, but life has a way of laughing at you and your well-planned plans as you throw traffic jams, work accidents, illnesses, social events, and anything else you can think of into your perfectly planned calendar.
This means that sometimes we cannot put our children to bed on time, so we may have some problems when we need to change their schedule.
It’s true that babies can’t tell us verbally when they’re tired, but they lose a number of signs, which aren’t easily seen like yawning or crying. Keep your eyes peeled for these highlights.
● Shake them or bend their back
● Punching
● Rubbing the eyes or ears
● Pulling their knees to their chest
The problem with newborns and babies is that they use these signals to convey different messages, so think about how long it has been since they last slept, when they last ate, and any other frustrations they may be trying to communicate with you.
Young children, on the other hand, can tell you when they are sleeping. The only problem is that they don’t do anything. They love to do anything but sleep, and refuse to be tired until they drop.
(This is a common issue with potty training. They are so involved in everything they are doing that they don’t want to interrupt the party for anything, including going to the bathroom.)
I know many parents who have a “wait and see” attitude towards bedtime and sleep, but it is important to look for signs of sleepiness, because trying to get them to sleep too early can upset them and create negative associations with bedtime, while letting them get too tired can lead to problems with falling asleep and staying asleep.
So, just like your newborn, you need to do some research to see if it’s time to rest. Signs to look for include…
● Not acting hastily and not acting in a coordinated manner.
● Irritability
● Pulling hair and/or ears
● Arguments and anger.
As I’ve said before, prevention is your best defense against a fussy, sleepy baby, so make bedtime a priority.
As they get older, they need less sleep and you need to follow their observations to know when they are truly growing, and when they are fighting sleep to be able to play.
If you and your child are struggling with falling asleep, staying asleep, or anything related to sleep, it may be time to try The Sleep Sense Program™. It has helped over 109,000 babies sleep through the night, sleep in their own bed, and do so without relying on pacifiers, bottles, rocking, or nursing! Click here to get your free trial and get started tonight!