With more and more people becoming fully vaccinated, I'm sure that, like me, your once-empty social calendar is now quickly filling up with obligations. And as excited as you must be to see those friends and family members whom you haven't seen since before last March, I bet you're equally as nervous about how to juggle your child's sleep schedule and these outings — and rightfully so! We all know that a tired baby is a cranky baby (and who wants that?)
But no need to worry. You don't have to choose between getting out of the house and your child's sleep.
You can have both.
I'm going to tell you how…
Tip #1
Adopt the 80/20 Rule
Aim for a regular bedtime and napping your child at home 80% of the time, while the other 20% can be a little more flexible. As long as your kiddo is getting enough sleep the majority of the time, that's what matters. Well-rested babies are more adaptable babies, therefore, they likely will be more willing to sleep outside of their normal and will better tolerate being a bit off-schedule or overtired.
Tip #2:
Have Realistic Expectations
If your kiddo is used to sleeping at home in their own crib, you can't expect them to sleep well in a new environment. That's okay! They may not take great naps when they are not at home. As a result, you may have a rough bedtime and they may wake up more overnight or extra early because they're overtired. It's just one day. Their sleep doesn’t have to be perfect every day. Just as long as you make sure you allow them to catch up on sleep the following day, it shouldn’t become a trend.
Tip #3
Do the First Nap at Home
This is usually the best and longest nap of the day. By ensuring the first nap (and best nap!) is at home, then if the rest of the day is a disaster, at least your kiddo got that one high-quality nap. Also, if they get some good quality rest early in the day, they will likely be more willing to sleep on-the-go later in the day.
Tip #4
If It Makes Sense, Do the Second Nap in the Car
That is, if your commute is at least around an hour. This way, again, you can make sure your kiddo gets some high-quality sleep the first-half of the day when they usually have their longest naps. As I mentioned before, you can't expect them to sleep well in an unfamiliar environment. But most kids will sleep well in the car.
TIP #5
Pack All the Things You Need to Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment
The best sleeping environment is like a little cave. It should be dark and quiet.
Bring with you some aluminum foil, some black construction paper, or garbage bags and painter's tape so you can cover the windows wherever you are — and don't forget to bring your sound machine. You know if you're at a social gathering, it's going to be loud and the noise is going to be distracting. The reason why you want it to be nice and dark is because, again, the new environment is going to be distracting for your kiddo and they're going to want to look around instead of sleep.
Also, bring your Pack 'n Play. That way, your child has a nice, safe environment to sleep in.
Expert Tip - if you're a social butterfly, I highly recommend investing in a Slumberpod. A Slumberpod is a canopy that you can put over a Pack 'n Play to create a pitch-black environment wherever you are.
Bonus: use my code KELLYMURRAY10 to save $20 at checkout on your Slumberpod!
TIP #6
If Available, Put the Pack 'n Play in a Bathroom or Well-Ventilated Walk-In Closet
This way, you don't have to monkey around with covering the windows. You know the environment will be pitch black and your child will have their own little private room.
TIP #7
Give Your Child Some Extra Wind-Down Time Before Their Nap
You can’t expect your babe to go from being the life of the party to sleeping within a couple minutes. So bring them into the room maybe 10 minutes before nap time, read some stories, and do something nice and relaxing before you start your bedtime routine. That way, they can decompress before nap time.
TIP #8
Know When to Throw In the Towel
If you've been trying for a good 20 minutes to get your kiddo to fall asleep in the Pack 'n Play and it doesn't seem like they're going to fall asleep anytime soon, I would abort mission and move to a motion nap. Grab a friend or family member, put your child in a stroller, and go for a walk. Chances are, they will fall asleep.
If your baby isn't in love with the stroller, you can always put them in the car, too, for a quick little car nap. Although motion naps aren't ideal, they are better than no nap at all!
TIP #9
For Those of You Who Have a Baby Who Sleeps More than 2x/Day
Find a friend or family member to hold your babe for those last naps of the day.
Trust me, they're not going to mind. They're going to LOVE to get their snuggle time. And best of all, you get a break.
TIP #10
Finally and Most Importantly: Let Your Child Catch Up On Sleep the Next Day
Make sure you stay on schedule and allow your child to sleep at home. That way, they can catch up on sleep. If they want to sleep in or take extra naps, let them. If they seem cranky at the end of the day, put them to bed a little early. The last thing you want to do is to allow your child to accumulate a sleep debt, because then it’ll take a bit of time to work it off.
Yes, You Can Have a Life and a Well-Rested Child
I hope that these tips will allow you to get out and socialize this summer with your baby — you deserve it! With a little planning and realistic expectations, your baby can get their sleep and you can have fun, too. If you have any questions about this advice, please email me at info@kellymurraysleep.com or leave me a comment on my Instagram. I would love to hear from you.
All of our Sleep Squad members have completed Sleep Sense Training and the Kelly Murray Sleep mentorship program. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with each family. This way, all clients experience the same amazing results (and lots and lots of sleep), regardless of who supports them.
Sweet Dreams
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
