The holidays are a time of joy, family, and friends. But for many parents, it can also be a challenging time when it comes to getting their baby to sleep through the night. If you’re looking for ways to help your little one get some quality z’s this season, read on. Here are some of the key resources I’ve shared over the past few months for helping you create a sleep routine that works well for your family — especially during the festive (but busy!) months ahead.
Top Sleep Tips for Traveling with Young Kids
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday often requires a TON of traveling and that makes sticking to a sleep routine a challenge! Here, I’ve shared some of my favorite tips and products for sleep when traveling. While relaxing the schedule and being more “go with the flow” is a necessary part of traveling with kids, we all know that rested kiddos (and parents!) are going to make for a better trip for everyone! Here are my top tips for making sure that everyone comes home feeling rested and rejuvenated!
Managing Bedtime Routines with Multiple Children
Most parents will be faced with having to manage bedtime routines with multiple children solo at one point or another. Whether you have to do this on a regular basis, just around the busyness of the holidays, or just once in a while, having a plan can make all the difference between a peaceful bedtime — or a chaotic one! Managing multiple kids can make the bedtime routine really tricky with different ages of kids who need totally different things at bedtime. Let’s discuss some tips to help it all work together a little more seamlessly!
Toddler Nutrition and Sleep
Let’s talk about something that goes hand in hand, but that often gets missed when parents are trying to diagnose their toddler’s sleep issues. Nutrition, or maybe LACK of nutrition. Specifically toddler nutrition and sleep. What your toddler eats daily can affect his sleep significantly, yet sleep consultants and parents often overlook it. The holiday season is packed with special menus and new foods for your kids to try. In this post, we’re chatting about some of the key things to look for in sleep-promoting foods and how to make sure that your child’s diet supports their sleep needs. Starting with a healthy breakfast can set the tone for the day and keeping parameters around sweet treats can help to make sure its not just a “sugar” free for all! Sugar overload will surely hinder quality sleep so establishing clear boundaries is a must for parents of young kiddos.
Your Baby’s Sleep Window, And Why You Need To Understand It
Every baby has a sleep window. A sleep window is that “sweet spot” when your baby will go to sleep most easily. It is a place in your baby’s natural circadian rhythms when they have just begun getting drowsy and they are not yet over-tired. The problem with a baby’s sleep window is that it is extremely easy to miss unless you are actively looking for it. If you haven’t figured out your child’s sleep routine just yet, that can make the holidays extra challenging. Let’s go over how to make sure you’re taking your child’s sleep window into consideration during your holiday planning so you and your family all get the best sleep possible.
The biggest mistake I see parents make is over scheduling their baby or toddlers day. Kids don’t do well being rushed from one activity to the next. They feel the stress and it can cause them to unravel quickly. The second mistake I see is keeping kids up too late when their bodies simply cannot handle it. For young children and babies sleep still needs to be prioritzied even during the busy holiday season. This might mean saying no to things for now and know that as your kids get older you will be able to enjoy more and do more. But for young kids keeping the holiday season as simple as possible is going to make for a more enjoyable time for everyone. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling you need to please extended family members and then end up sacrificing your family’s sanity in the process.
If your baby is still struggling to go to sleep independently and you feel like you need some extra help or just have more questions, reach out to me! I’m here to help as you navigate laying a healthy sleep foundation for your baby.