Blog
Three R’s for Good Sleep
Posted August 6, 2009
In my new book The Manual - Birth to 3 Months, I stress that babies gain a sense of security when their Routines are predictable and will come to rely on the Regularity of a consistant schedule. Reduction of stimulation is the final key to helping your baby learn self-calming skills.
Stimulation -just the right amount and no more - is already provided during feedings, diaper changes and short, cuddley playtimes. Don't believe the marketing ploys designed to make you buy brightly colored products to hang all around your baby's environment. In fact, over-stimulation is a common cause of sleep deprivation in newborns.
The Manual - Good for parents, Great for babies! Download your copy today (ebook).
Filed under: Daily Routines, Feeding and Eating, News from Kitty, Sleep
Daylight Savings Time is Over on November 1: Tips to Help Your Child Adjust
Posted October 20, 2009
Just when you think your child has a predictable sleep routine, along comes a time change. YIKES! Is your well-oiled machine about to fall off the rails?
Maybe not. A little planning ahead helps and once you've done what you can to prepare, your child will gradually re-set his/her clock.
As with most changes in sleep patterns, it will take about 3 nights and 4 or 5 mornings for your child to get in tune with the new schedule.
Below is a chart from the sleep store (online store in New Zealand) which describes an ideal 3-day adjustment plan for babies up to about 1 year. In my opinion, the same plan will fit for toddlers.
The trick for parents is handling the mornings when your child is still waking according to their biological clock setting. Be sure you resist going in when they wake up early, even if they cry. By being left to sort the time out for themsleves, their little bio clocks will make the quickest transition for them.
Assuming a 7pm bedtime:
| Day | Routine during the day | Bedtime |
| Wednesday | Usual sleep & feed times | 7.00pm |
| Thursday | Sleep & feed times 15 mins later, (eg first feed at 7.15am not 7am). | 7.15pm |
| Friday |
Sleep & feed times 30 mins later (eg first feed at 7.30am not 7am). |
7.30pm |
| Saturday | Sleep& feed times 45 mins later (eg first feed at 7.45am not 7am). | 7.45pm |
| Sunday |
Wake your child at 7am (new time), then your usual routine times for feeds & sleeps. |
7.00pm (new time) |
- If your baby or toddler wants to sleep in a bit later (after you start adjusting their bedtime, then allow this.
- Try and adjust the routine from the first feed of the day by 15 mins each day. if your baby can't last first thing in the morning, just try to make the routine adjustments as the day goes on.
- Put your clock back on Saturday night before you go to bed.
- Check your smoke alarms at the same times.
Filed under: Daily Routines, Sleep
Good Nighttime Sleep but Not Napping
Posted March 10, 2009
Hi Kitty,
I took your sleep seminar recently and it worked like a charm -- for nights. She is sleeping almost 12 hours (6 months old) and goes to bed like a dream.
Our problem is with the naps. They are horrible. I can't understand why, but she can sometimes scream right through the whole two hours. Other times she does fall asleep but then wakes up at the 45 minute mark. How can she learn everything at night and not put it into practice during the day? It's driving me crazy to hear her cry so much. It makes me think maybe she doesn't really need so much napping?
The problem of naps is huge for parents these days. Your letter is similar to many I receive and I wish I had a magic answer. You may remember me saying during the seminar that the nights will be great after 3 nights, but that naps can take up to 5 days to become smooth. Many parents find it hard to be consistent over 5 days where they can manage the 3 nights quite well. So lack of consistency can be one problem. Your baby will learn best from repeated practice times with two hour naps every couple of hours totaling three naps per day with regularity over about 5 days in a row.
Another solution comes with putting a baby down 15-20 minutes earlier than you might think you need to. This way he can lie down before he gets cranky or over tired and drift off to sleep or perhaps make do with less crying on the way.
An excellent article on solving naps by Elizabeth Pantley suggests other tweaking ideas that might just be the small change required to smooth out your baby's nap skills.
A really enjoyed watching a newborn baby "talking" to his mother on a friend's blog recently. It's a great demonstration of a way to interact with your baby that avoids over-stimulation and allows her to take the lead in the "conversation." Take a look.
Filed under: Sleep
