Helping Your Little One Through Big Changes: Tips for Maintaining Healthy Sleep
If you are a parent with babies, toddlers or children, then you already know how precious sleep is for them and you!
But what happens when big changes happen? Like moving to a new house to welcoming a new sibling, these transitions can really mess up your child's sleep routine.
Here are a few tips to help your little one navigate these changes while keeping their sleep on track:
1. New Room/New House:
Try to replicate your child’s old sleep space to make it as familiar as possible, you can even use the same bedding, toys/stuffed animals and so on.
Stick to your bedtime routine like glue—it's like a security blanket for them during these big changes.
Let them pick out something special for their new room, so they have a sense of ownership.
2. Vacation:
Keep the adventure going while still honoring bedtime routines.
Try to keep familiar sleep routines.
Take a little piece of home, like their favorite blanket or bedtime story, to make strange beds feel a bit more like their own.
Embrace flexibility in bedtime, but aim to keep things somewhat consistent to avoid cranky little ones the next day.
3. New Sibling:
Make your older child feel like the super hero big sibling by involving them in preparations for the new arrival.
Keep bedtime routines as they are—they're a sweet time for bonding.
Sneak in some extra one-on-one time with your older child so they don’t feel left out or replaced.
4. New School/New Nursery:
Take the edge off by giving your child a sneak peek of their new nursery/school.
As always, keep bedtime routines as they are—it's like a comforting hug at the end of a big day.
Keep the lines of communication open and encourage your little one to share any worries or wobbles they might have about the change.
Read stories with them to explain the change and prepare them.
Transitions can be bumpy, but with routine and explaining what the big change is, you and your little one can smooth out the big changes. Remember, every child is different, so trust your gut and be flexible as you figure out what works best for your family.
If you need help, I’m always here for you, book a assessment call and let’s see how to manage these big changes.
