Cold and flu season has arrived in full force. In the past few weeks, I’ve seen cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth, RSV and Strep. These illnesses can wreak havoc on your child’s sleep and you may have reverted back to old sleep habits, causing a disruption in your child’s independent sleep. Often times, parents revert to rocking, nursing and soothing their sick child to sleep at bedtime and throughout the night when they become ill, but it sometimes causes new (or the return of old) sleep prop associations.
Moms often ask what they’re supposed to do when their baby becomes ill and if they should continue sleep training, or if they should still enforce independent sleep skills that they have while they’re in great health. I would never ever tell a parent NOT to comfort their child when they are sick. When a baby gets sick, they often NEED comfort and that is perfectly fine. That doesn’t mean that it’s going to ruin their sleep forever. I always advise to put sleep training on hold and to give their baby the comfort that they need.
The biggest piece of advice that I can give is to always be prepared for sickness. The last thing we need to worry about when our babies get sick is a 2am run to Wegmans for medicine- yea, I’ve done that a few times! Let’s get into some tips to help you keep sleep on track, or to get it back on track after sickness.
Tip #1: Follow the pediatrician’s advice in terms of administration of medicine. If you are giving a dose at bedtime, stay with your child until you know that the dose has started to take effect. This might mean giving extra time during the bedtime routine for extended comfort and cuddle sessions.
Tip #2: Make sure you have a working thermometer. I’m throwing this tip in here because I’ve had those late night calls where the Dr is asking what the baby’s temperature is and our thermometer was reading SUPER low to the point where they asked us to get a different thermometer. I ended up getting the SmartGlow Thermometer and I LOVE IT. I was skeptical about it’s efficiency at first, but after many test rounds, I know this product is amazing. I’m a firm believer that taking your child’s temperature should not be a wrestling match!
Tip #3: When your baby is congested, there are a few simple things that can help him breathe better and sleep better. Using a humidifier will keep the air moist, break up mucus, and kill germs and viruses in the air. I also love giving my kids warm vapor baths when they’re congested. Another popular suggestion is to use the NoseFrida when your child is congested. You won’t see me sucking snot out of my kids’ noses, but you can go for it! 😉
Tip #4: While your baby is sick, ensure that he is in his usual environment. I often hear of parents bringing the baby into their bed so they can hold them and give them comfort, but you should avoid doing this at all costs. Not only is it unsafe, but you’re creating new bad sleep habits and your baby will sleep better in the environment that he’s used to. If you’re worried about your child while he is sick, by all means, sleep on the floor in his bedroom. Use a sleeping bag or a blow up mattress, whatever you need to do, but please keep your child sleeping in his own crib.
Tip #5: I know this is not always possible, but try to put your child down in his crib while he is drowsy. As stated in tip #4, you don’t want to create new sleep associations. Yes, it is possible to comfort and cuddle and sing to your baby while he is sick and still put him down while he’s drowsy and not asleep. I absolutely understand that this isn’t always the reality of sick children, but it’s important to at least try to maintain the healthy sleep habits you worked so hard to achieve in the first place.
Tip #6: It is important to remember that sleep heals the body, so let your baby sleep when he needs to. It’s also important to keep your baby hydrated, so waking him up every so often for a feeding should be taken into consideration. Always follow the Doctor’s directions about sleep and feedings. Sometimes, Pediatricians recommend giving your child some Pedialyte during an illness if they are concerned that they’re becoming dehydrated. Always follow your Doctor’s advice.
Tip #7: Ensure that everyone in the house is washing their hands frequently. With children, it is wise to schedule hand washing at certain times of the day. For example, kids should wash hands upon waking up in the morning, before & after meals, after using the bathroom, after play sessions, after school/play dates, before bed, etc. Teach them to “wash the germs down the drain” because we don’t want those germs getting our precious babies sick. I have incorporated hand washing into my morning and bedtime routine cards.
Once your baby is feeling better, give him 24-48 hours symptom-free to be sure the illness is gone. Then you may resume sleep training, or go back to healthy routines. It is always a good idea to check with your child’s Pediatrician to make sure the illness is fully gone before resuming sleep training. If you are certain that your child is healthy, you may resume sleep training or go back to your usual routines. If you fell into bad habits while your child was sick, refer back to your sleep plan and follow the steps we outlined. It usually takes 3-5 nights for sleep to get fully back on track after being sick.
If your baby is still struggling with sleeping through the night, and you’re ready to start working together, let’s set up a time to chat!
Some things to think about when deciding when you want to start sleep training your baby/toddler:
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- Ensure it’s the proper timing- make sure your baby isn’t sick, you aren’t traveling, or you don’t have any big life changes coming (new baby, moving, switching jobs/childcare, etc.).
- Be prepared to put in the work. Consistency will pay off in the long run. Sleep training isn’t overnight success; it takes many nights and dedication to help your baby learn to sleep.
- Create a plan, or invest in a sleep consultant. If you choose to work with me, I will assess your baby’s sleep habits and write a customized step by step sleep plan for your baby. No two plans are the same, just as no two babies are the same. My sleep plans are based on your child’s temperament, age, parental preference and so much more! My sleep packages also come with unlimited support for the duration of your purchase- you can ask me anything and share every triumph and victory!
Sweet Dreams!
Missy Yandow
#sleeptips #babysleeptraining #babysleep
2 Comments
My 23 month old is reluctant to go into cot for nap or bedtime since the last 14 days..changes started when we hot anau pair, then she developed high temps, chestiness and has been co sleeping with us since ce..screams when put into got new and won’t go near cot..any tips as I want to put her back in cot tonight
You can sleep next to the cot for a few nights to get her back in the hang of sleeping on it.