SICK CHILDREN & SLEEP
How do we maintain independent sleep with a sick child?
Is your perfect sleeper all of a sudden start waking in the middle of night because they aren't feeling well?
I know we have all been there. Those middle of the night wakings and cries can be so tough! There are a few things that you can do to provide comfort and still help your child remain the independent sleeper that they are and help them to get the most restorative rest possible!
What to do?!
For sick babies from 4 months to 1 year, you will want to make sure that you are giving them as much rest as you can throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is still cut off all daytime sleep by a certain time and length, so we can ensure there will be sleep pressure going into the evening.
On 3 Naps: Cap at 4.5 Hours
On 2 Naps: Cap at 3.5 Hours
On 1 Nap: Cap at 2-2.5 Hours
You should absolutely comfort your sick baby when needed! Always trust your gut. If your child wakes in the middle of night and your gut is telling you to intervene, give them a sweet cuddle, back rub, wipe their nose, or give them a drink of milk or water (age depending). Then you will ideally want to put them back down in their crib so they can fall asleep on their own. If it requires you to rub their back until they fall asleep, that is okay! Once they are feeling better, you will want to dig right back in with your plan to help them bounce back quickly.
Always practice safe sleep and make sure that their nap(s) are in the crib or bassinet.
For Toddlers:
You will want to give them as much wind down time as possible. Reading a book and turning off screens 60 minutes before bedtime can help your child relax and fall asleep more easily.
Always remember the rule of two. If we go off of routine for two nights we need to jump back into our normal response as soon as possible so that we do not create any bad habits. If you are concerned, and want to watch/tend to your child through the night, it is always better to go to them vs. bringing them to you as doing so can open a can of worms!
Once they are feeling better, dig right back in and your child should be back on track within a few days!
Above all, sickness is short lived. With a sleep trained baby or toddler, they are able to get the beneficial sleep they need to fight the illness or infection. Don't worry if you have an off nap day or two with a sick child! Nighttime is the most restorative and beneficial sleep. Lean on an earlier bedtime when needed. Caring for sick kids isn't easy, so make sure you get as much rest as you can as well.
Written By: Megan Duffy, MyBaby Sleepology