It is always difficult to know that your kiddo is feeling discomfort, but it can be especially challenging when you are in the midst of sleep training.
Sickness while sleep training can bring some mixed emotions. On one hand, you want to provide your child extra comfort while they fall asleep or wake up overnight. But on the other hand, you are nervous that doing so might derail your progress. How do you manage both?
Fortunately with a little guidance, you can treat your sick child while maintaining their healthy sleep habits — or at least, set them up for success to continue those habits once the sickness has passed.
Follow These Guidelines for How to Deal with Sickness While Sleep Training
1: Allow your child the chance to fall asleep independently.
Don't assume that they are going to need your assistance falling asleep. Give them ample opportunity to fall asleep on their own. If they are having difficulties falling asleep after 10-to-15 minutes, then you can give them extra comfort.
2: Use the least "invasive" method of comfort first.
First, try continuous physical touch while your child remains in the crib. If that doesn't work after 5-to-10 minutes, then remove them from the crib and rock them to sleep. That will most likely do the trick!
3: Forgo the wait time.
If your kiddo wakes up overnight (which they probably will), pass on the wait time and go to them immediately.
4: Administer any pain medication if necessary.
If pain medication was given, take your child out of the crib and hold and/or rock them for at least 10 minutes for the pain medication to kick in. Put them back in their crib after the time has elapsed and give them an opportunity to fall back to sleep unassisted.
5: If your child is having trouble after about 10 minutes, repeat step 2.
6: Once your kiddo is feeling better, resume the sleep plan.
Lastly: Provide comfort with strategy.
Your child might experience a slight regression. However, if you keep your assistance to a minimum and haven't provided extra support for more than 3 days, they should bounce right back to independent sleep. The key is to try to limit any extra comfort to just 1-to-3 days as it takes about 4 nights to create a sleep association. If a sleep association reforms, schedule a strategy call with us for how to get your kiddo sleeping again on their own.
Not sure if you need to work one-on-one but need guidance?
Check out our digital course → The Murray Method for Babies
All team members have been trained by Kelly herself. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with the families who trust in us. That way, all clients will 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.
