1. A More Structured Day
For me, summer presents more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality. Beach, why not? Park, of course! Picnic lunch, what could be more lovely? Yet despite my efforts at sticking to a strict schedule, I am inevitably a few minutes late for nap or bedtime. Here’s how it often goes – “No matter what, we are leaving location X by 12 p.m., so the baby can be in her crib by 12:30 p.m.” Yet 12 p.m. arrives, and there is just one more run through the water or slide down the slide. Somehow 12:30 p.m. becomes 1 p.m., and I am cursing myself for another nap that started a bit too late.
Even for a young child who is not yet in school, fall often presents a more structured and consistent day, and young children benefit greatly from being on a schedule. This is because it helps them understand what comes next. If your child eats lunch every day at 12 p.m. and then goes down for his nap at 12:30 p.m., lunch serves as a cue that nap time is approaching. But if one day the schedule is lunch, then play, then car ride, then nap, and the next day the schedule is nap, then lunch, then errands – nap time is likely more difficult because his body doesn’t know what to expect next. So take fall as an opportunity to get your little one on the schedule they have been longing for.
2. Less Temptation For Naps on the Go
Do you try to eke out every last bit of fun at a location or feel bad cutting big brother or sister off from their good time? If so, your baby may be taking a large percentage of naps on the go. Some babies are able to take OK naps on the go, while others are too distracted to get in any quality shut eye. Even if your baby is able to fall asleep anywhere, the quality of sleep they are getting is actually subpar. Sleep on the go is not as restorative as sleep in a stationary bed. This is because sleep in motion (that you get in a stroller or car) does not allow the body to enter a deep, restorative sleep. Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a noted pediatrician and author, likens motion-induced sleep to the type of sleep an adult might get while flying in an airplane. So with less going on, take this opportunity to commit to allowing your child to nap in their crib as often as possible.
3. Cooler Weather
We all sleep better in cooler air. The ideal temp for your bedroom is between 65-70 degrees. I shoot for 68. Thankfully, air conditioning allows you to keep bedrooms at a good sleeping temperature during warmer months, but nothing is quite as good as the real thing! Think about that first night that you get to sleep with your windows open, snuggled beneath a quilt. Somehow you just sleep a little better! For these nights, make sure you dress your little one in the appropriate layers. And remember, no blankets in your baby’s crib! A wearable blanket will ensure your little one stays warm without kicking off his blankets and while staying safe. I love this one from Baby Deedee.
4. Shorter Days
While babies and toddlers do not mind the sun being high in the sky at bedtime, many parents have a hard time putting their baby to bed when it is still bright and sunny outside. I recommend black-out curtains to ensure your child will easily fall asleep at the ideal bedtime despite the sunshine. Even with a pitch-black room, I know those moms and dads who just cannot do it. I think it’s a psychological thing. So now that fall is here and the sun will be going down sooner, take this opportunity to make sure your little one is getting a bedtime early enough for his age.
How do you know if your baby's bedtime is early enough? Your child should be fast asleep before he has the opportunity to become overtired. Shorter days are not only beneficial to bedtime, but also wake-up times. Not only is it getting darker earlier in the evening, it also is staying dark a bit later into the morning. This is welcome news for parents, as many kids wake with the sun. If you have done everything to ensure that your child’s early bird tendencies are not from poor sleep hygiene (such as a nap schedule which is out of sync with their circadian rhythms, a bedtime which is too late, not enough consolidated sleep, or a room without black-out curtains), then they may just be one of those children with the soul of a rooster. As the sun starts “sleeping in,” you may find that your child does too!
The Tip Take-Away
Recently there has been a slew of studies showing that children who get more sleep do better in school. Even if your child is not yet school aged, allow the start of the new season to mean the start of getting back to a healthy sleep routine.
Amy Lage is a Family Sleep Institute certified Child Sleep Consultant. She is co-owner of Well Rested Baby. She offers a host of services including in person, phone, email and Skype/FaceTime consultations that can be tailored to meet any family’s needs and schedule. Please check out her website at www.wellrestedbaby.com and email her at amy@wellrestedbaby.com with any questions. Be sure to like WRB on Facebook and Twitter too!
