It's that time of year again! Must read sleep training and sickness tips!
It's that time of year again when the kids start coming home from school or daycare with illness. There is not much worse than seeing your child sick. I am often asked by my client's how this can effect their sleep coaching or get questions from former client s on how to get "back on track" after illness strikes.
What happens if my child gets sick during sleep training?
When your child becomes sick your most important priority is their health and well-being. You need to do what feels best for your family and situation (it won't be the same for everyone and that's OK)! It is very important to consult with your pediatrician and prioritize their recommendations for your child's health and well-being. Sleep is solvable and always possible to get "back on track" when your child is feeling better.
Depending on the severity of the illness, some families will choose to "pause" making progress and just try to maintain while tending to their child's health and well-being. This might look like keeping bedtime, wake time and naps as "on schedule" as you can, but using some sleep crutches to help and comfort your child.
Can illness impact my child's sleep?
Sometimes when our children are sick, we can start offering them additional support in getting them to sleep, whether it's holding, rocking, or feeding them. Whatever state or environment is present when a child enters the first stages of sleep is what they come to expect in order to re-enter another cycle later on, known as a sleep association. This can look something like: Baby is rocked to sleep, at every wake up throughout the night they again want Mommy to rock them to sleep.
To minimize creating any unwanted sleep associations try to only offer "as much as needed." This will look different for each child depending on the illness and its severity.
Sickness can also increase wake ups throughout the night. Try keeping bedtime, wake time and naps as "on schedule" as you can while offering "as much as needed" support.
Sleep and Sick Season Tips
Prioritize health and well-being of your baby above anything. Check with your pediatrician and trust your gut.
Try keeping bedtime, wake time and naps as "on schedule" as you can
Offer "as much as needed" support when getting your child to sleep
Hydration is VERY important when navigating illness. This might mean middle of the night feeds and that’s OK even if you have long since moved away from them.
Bring a mattress into baby's room and sleep on the floor before bed-sharing. This will help their bedtime environment remain the same and should be an easier "fix" once baby is back to themselves.
Prioritize Safe Sleep - make sure you don't compromise safe sleep when taking care of your child with illness. Elevating mattresses are NOT advised, please consult with your pediatrician.
Remember, life happens and that includes illness. If you have sleep coached your child they have independent sleep skills and they can be refreshed quickly. Don't let the "loss of sleep progress thoughts" cause any more stress than dealing with a sick child already does.
To Reduce the Stress of having a sick child (and avoid late night CVS runs) here are some great products to have on hand and tips! Bonus - these are all Amazon links!
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Check those expiration dates and make sure you have some on hand! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MK2D954?tag=kitco079-20&geniuslink=true |
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These single serving Pedialyte Powder Packs are great to have on hand. Easily fits in a diaper bad and you won't find yourself throwing out the rest of the bottle, frantically running out for more next time illness strikes. Buy it once, and it should last all season. |
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This is an incredible product to have for those constant runny noses! Pair this with saline nose spray when needed and it can drastically improve sleep. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RP0GHBO?tag=kitco079-20&geniuslink=true |
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Extra Sheets and Mattress Protectors Double up on the sheets and waterproof mattress protector layers! If baby is sick it makes for a quick bed change, just pull off one layer and baby is ready to head back to sleep! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FCK32C?tag=kitco079-20&geniuslink=true |
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A good thermometer is a must have for when fevers strike! Pediatricians often prefer parents to provide them with rectal temps. Another great tip is to record your baby's temperature and when you need to give any Tylenol with date and time. Whether you use an app, a quick text, or on an old fashion piece of paper, recording it can help keep it all straight. |
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These are great to have in the car just in case! https://kit.co/BlissfulBabySleep/sick-baby-kit/hospital-vomit-bags |
To see all my recommended products, check out my Sick Baby Kit .
Is there something you would add? I would LOVE to hear about it.
Are you interested in learning more about Sleep Coaching?
The first step to see if I can help you achieve beautiful, blissful sleep is to schedule a 60 minute ZOOM Sleep Strategy Session ($99). Go to this link and complete the contact me form and I will be in touch within 24 hours with directions on how to schedule your Sleep Strategy Session.
If you are still wondering if I can help, please know I do NOT advocate 'cry-it-out'. I am a Gentle Sleep Coach. If you want to learn about my guilt-free and gentle process, please go to these links.
The Blissful Baby Stairway to Sleep
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