Space Coast Parent - April 2018

Sleep Tips – From Newborn to Early Childhood
Jennie Clarke
Approaching parenthood, I think
many of us hear from our friends and
loved ones, something like “kiss your
sleep goodbye.” Ugh, that is the last
thing we want to hear. Then we’ve all
also heard the phrase; “Sleep like a baby.”
That sounds wonderful, but does
that actually exist?! So, do babies and
children sleep?
Here is the deal: consolidated and restorative
sleep, despite what we may
think, is a learned behavior. As a parent,
sleep can be tough to come by, yet so important
for you and your child’s health.
Not only does your child beneÿt from a
good night’s sleep, but so do you as a
parent.
I think there are three things vital to a
child’s well-being: love, nutrition and
sleep. Love is inherent – that just happens.
I mean, we created this tiny human,
a miracle to say the least. Guidance
on nutrition is given to us at the
hospital before going home or through a
lactation consultant. But, no one teaches
us about sleep. What’s even tougher,
is we hear so many con“icting opinions
on sleep. I am here to help clarify those
for you.
Healthy sleep is vital to a baby or
child’s health, for so many reasons:
Mood – For both yourself and your
child, more sleep can improve how we
feel. We want to be happy and have a
happy child, right? This goes for both
you and your child.
Cognitive Ability – Children can
learn new things more easily and quickly
when they are well rested. Just think
about skills like walking and talking.
They come more easily, when your child
is getting the sleep that they need.
Predictability – Babies and children
thrive o‘ of predictability. Without being
able to tell time at a young age, they
can tell the time between events. They
can learn from your cues and understand
what comes next, it is a version of
communication for them in a great big
vast world – it is a sense of comfort for
them.
Immune system – Our immune system
is tied to sleep, the better rested we
are the better ability our body has to
ÿght o‘ infections – children and adults
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
alike.
Parent’s Need Rest Too – Being a
parent is serious business, it is a job that
never ends. Being able to count on daily
naps and a child that sleeps through the
night, gives you a break too.
Newborns (0-3 months)
1. Have your newborn’s sleep needs in
mind right away. You can begin to create
great habits right from the start.
2. Watch for sleepy cues. Our babies
have very short wake windows. Try to
lay your baby down awake when you see
that ÿrst sleep cue.
3. Consider your baby’s sleep environment.
Is it conducive for sleep? Our
kiddos sleep best in dark, cool and quiet
environments.
4. Do not stress if he / she won’t fall to
sleep their own all the time. They still
need your help.
5. Make safe sleeping habits a top priority.
Your little one should be Alone, on
their Back and placed in a Crib (ABC).
How much sleep?: You should be
looking for 14 – 17 hours of sleep, with
4-5 naps a day.
Infants (4-12 months)
1. If there is something that your child
needs to fall asleep, this is the time
when you can help them learn to become
independent sleepers.
2. It’s time for a sleep schedule. Circadian
rhythms have developed which
means that our little ones now sleep better
at speciÿc times of the day and thrive
on early bedtimes.
3. If you haven’t started with a bedtime
routine yet, this is a great time to
get one started. Bedtime routines are a
great communication to our babies and
children that sleep is coming.
4. It is now important to work towards
longer naps. Each nap should
now be 1.5-2 hours long.
5. Don’t become lax on safe sleeping
habits. It is not time for blankets, pillows
or stu‘ ed animals yet. Wait until
after 12 months for a stu‘ ed animal, after
1.5 years for a blanket and after 2
years for a pillow.
How much sleep?:12-16 hours of sleep
is recommended with 2-3 naps a day.
Toddler & Early Childhood Years
1. Don’t rush to a big kid bed. The
transition goes more smoothly if you
wait until you feel that you can discuss
sleep rules with your child and they can
follow through with the sleep rules.
2. If your toddler is jumping out of the
crib, try these few tricks:
a. A sleep sack – it may just help prevent
them from swinging their leg over
the railing.
b. If one side of the crib is higher than
the other, turn the crib around.
c. If you catch them in the act, a few
times saying “NO” might just stop them
in their tracks.
3. When you do make the transition
to a big kid bed, prepare for it. Create
some simple sleep rules and talk about
them with your child. Invest in a toddler
clock.
4. Know this is when they can begin
to become creative with stalling on bedtime
and getting out too early. Stay
strong, bedtime is bedtime. Check out
these few tools that will help.
5. Don’t take away the last nap too
early. Most kiddos drop their last nap
between the ages of 3-5.
How much sleep?: From 1-2 years: 11-
14 hours of sleep with 1-2 naps
From 3-5 years: 10-13 hours of sleep
with 0-1 naps
Jennie Clarke
GoodNightSleepSite.com/Florida
Facebook: Good Night Sleep Site Florida
Instagram: @GoodNight_FL
321-209-5013
jennie@goodnightsleepsite.com
14 | Space Coast Parent APRIL 2018 2018