http://babesinsleepland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/logo-new.jpg
Helping the overtired moms and children sleep like a baby!
Find Your Perfect Sleep Success Plan
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Angela
    • Philosophy and Values
  • Working Together
    • Approach
    • Sleep Success Plans
    • Group Seminars
    • Purchase Here
  • Media
  • Testimonials
  • Products
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Contact

July 22, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Vacation Sleep Solutions for Children

 

Cute little boy, sleeping on a picnic blanket, outdoors in a summer sunny afternoon

August is a busy month for family summer vacations, and vacations are a wonderful time for families to experience new adventures and build precious memories.  Whether you are visiting family from out of state, or touring a foreign country, taking your child out of their natural surroundings can create sleep difficulties. 

Ease into the time change
Switching over to a new time zone can be very difficult for both child and family. I always suggest to my parents to start changing the time gradually, while they are still at home. Progressively pushing sleep time slightly ahead or behind, will make the transition much less abrupt once you arrive.

If you are only away for two or three days, I recommend sticking with your home time zone. Otherwise, by the time your child adjusts to the new time, you will be working to correct them back. Do your best to keep nap times on schedule so your child is not overtired, or too alert for bed. Use blinds to create a dark room at your child’s bedtime to help induce relaxation, and promote the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Don’t skip nap time
Do your best to stick to your nap time schedule when you are on vacation. If you are able, I suggest to my parents to try and fit travel in when it suits the child’s nap schedule. This will prevent the child from missing a nap and becoming overtired, making time changes even more difficult. Once at your destination, do your best to make your daily itinerary nap friendly. It can be tempting to try and get as much touring as possible in during the day, but an overtired child will not be much fun in a museum or restaurant.

Some kids may have a difficult time settling down if they are not in their own bed. Give yourself and your child extra time for a bedtime soothing routine. This will help them relax and fall asleep much easier.

Your little one doesn’t want to fall asleep for fear of missing out on the fun
Once your child reaches toddler age they may become aware that their bedtime does not mean everyone else is going to sleep. If you are vacationing with family who have older children, your child may resist bedtime for fear of missing out on fun to be had with their cousins. Help your child ease into sleep by taking your time with your bedtime routine. Read them a story and let them know that everyone else will be going to bed soon.  And don’t be shy about asking people to keep the noise down, so as not to wake your child. This is also a perfect time to have your white noise machine or fan. This will help buffer the noise in and outside of the house.

Scent is important to relaxation 
According to the National Sleep Foundation, https://sleep.org/articles/scents-for-relaxation/ “there is some evidence that certain smells may have an effect on your sleep. For example, lavender has been shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure, potentially putting you in a more relaxed state. Another study of infants found that they cried less and slept more deeply after a bath with lavender scented oils.”

Your child’s sense of smell can also be a very important factor in their ability to feel comfortable at bedtime. If your child’s room or bed does not smell like home it could potentially create anxiety, causing it difficult to settle into sleep. Bring along a well-worn pair of pajamas, a stuffed animal, or even their bedding- anything that smells like home. This may help soothe feelings of home sickness that could create issues at bedtime.

Bring a night light
Sometimes a night light can help a child feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar room. Even if your child is no longer afraid of the dark, a dark, unknown room can be scary to most. Think about bringing a night light along with you to help navigate a strange room.

I tell my parents not to be too concerned if their child experiences some change to their sleep routine during a vacation. It can sometimes be unavoidable to get the same quality of sleep that you get at home, on days you are traveling. However, try not to let your little one get too far off track. An overtired child can be cranky, and have more difficulty falling asleep at night.

Was this information helpful? Contact me and let me know what issues your child is experiencing with their sleep this summer.

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com.  Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

Filed Under: Adjusting a child's bedtime, baby sleep difficulties, child sleep expert, How to adjust sleep schedules to time changes, How to enjoy the summer, Summer Sleep Tips, Vacation Sleep Tips

June 1, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Tips for Healthy Sleep During the Summer

 

Portrait of toddler child,  boy or gir, sleeping under a blanket in a bed.

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger and flowers are in bloom. The beautiful signs of summer time are upon us. Unfortunately while summer is a wonderful time of year, it can create issues for proper sleeping schedules. In addition, the weeks leading up to summer bring with them a high pollen count that can cause irritation for those who suffer from allergies.

Fortunately there are tips to help baby and parent ensure a good sleep during the warm summer months.

Temperature Control:
Do your best to keep the house cool during the night. An ideal temperature for sleeping is between 68 and 72 degrees. Try not to crank the AC too high to avoid creating an unnatural coolness. Many children enjoy the comfort of being able to sleep underneath a blanket, so the idea is to make the house cool enough to allow them to do so comfortably.

For those who do not have air conditioning, keep the blinds closed during the day to help keep the temperature of the room cool. Fans can be helpful to keep the air circulating. Face the fan away from the child’s face to avoid irritation.


Keep an Eye Out For Days With High Pollen Count:
Pollen travels more during warm, windy and dry weather. This can cause allergy symptoms to heighten. The irritating and sometimes painful symptoms of allergies, such as runny nose, itchy eyes and congestion, can make sleeping even more difficult during the spring and summer months. The Weather Network provides an allergy tracking tool on their website that can help parents keep an eye out for days with high pollen counts
http://www.weather.com/health/allergy .


Limit Sun Exposure Around Bedtime:
We love any opportunity to get the kids outdoors and being active. Without sounding too contradictory, try to limit the amount of sun exposure your little one gets around bedtime.

Light is an important external factor that can affect sleep, and during the summer it can cause issues in two ways. The longer days we experience in the summer can affect our internal clock and sunlight can prohibit the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

According to the National Sleep Foundation “exposure to light stimulates a nerve pathway from the retina in the eye to an area in the brain called the hypothalamus. There, a special center called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) initiates signals to other parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature and other functions that play a role in making us feel sleepy or wide awake. The SCN also delays the release of other hormones like melatonin, which is associated with sleep onset, until many hours later when darkness arrives.” http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep/page/0/1


Less is More:
As the temperature climbs be sure to remove any heavy winter bedding from your little ones crib or bed. Light weight cotton and other breathable fabrics are better options.

Children who still have difficulty wetting the bed may sleep with a waterproof barrier between their bottom sheet and mattress. Many of these barriers do not breathe and can cause your little one to get warm during the night. There are many breathable, hypoallergenic mattress protectors available on the market that can be a positive alternative.

Since we all love summer and love to be up longer and enjoy the long days, keep in mind that your child still needs to be on a good sleep schedule. The occasional later bedtime here or there because of traveling or family and friends visiting, is ok. But don’t make it a habit. Children can become overtired very quickly and this will lead to problems going to bed at night, waking in the night and waking too early in the morning. If your child still naps, these too can be affected. If you would like information on how much sleep your child should be getting a day, as well as some important sleep tips, please click on this link https://babesinsleepland.com/sleep-science-101-registration/, and then follow the prompts.

Please let me know if you found this information helpful!

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website they need and desire. : babesinsleepland.com.  Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Allergies in Children, Baby Sleep, certified child sleep consultant, Child Sleep, child sleep expert, Summer Sleep Tips

Featured On:

healthy-life-logowiox-logoitsyourhealthnetworkNEW LIVING LO-2pp-logo

Meet Angela

My name is Angela Walsh.  I am a Child Sleep Consultant Certified by the Family Sleep Institute, and the founder of Babes in Sleepland.  As the mother of four grown children (three boys and a girl), my mission is to help parents like you enjoy every … (READ MORE)

What Our Families Are Saying

Viney, Ny,Ny

"Angela was so helpful to me in my early attempts to sleep train my daughter; she was quick to respond, reassuring, empathetic and incredibly patient! Since I was dealing with my own sleep deprivation, I...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:17:52+00:00
"Angela was so helpful to me in my early attempts to sleep train my daughter; she was quick to respond, reassuring, empathetic and incredibly patient! Since I was dealing with my own sleep deprivation, I appreciated that she always sent me a recap of our conversations in an email after we spoke."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/3/

Brenda, Milwaukee, WI

"Working with Angela from Babes in Sleepland, our daughter Violet has gotten so much better in just a week’s time.  She’s been so full of smiles and I feel liberated.  Now we can fall head-over-heels...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:18:02+00:00
Testimonials
"Working with Angela from Babes in Sleepland, our daughter Violet has gotten so much better in just a week’s time.  She’s been so full of smiles and I feel liberated.  Now we can fall head-over-heels in love with her. When you are sleep-deprived, it’s hard to be truly happy to see your child in the morning when you have been hanging out with them all night!  Angela, thank you for your support during all these changes. Your business certainly fills a gap that sleep-deprived moms, dads, babies and families need.  With your training and expertise, you are able to take care of moms to get them and the whole family sleeping."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/4/

Brandi, Rye, NY

"I didn’t think anyone could help, but then I called Angela.  She was great!  After working with her, my son can now self-soothe, doesn’t eat at all throughout the night, and sleeps so much better!!...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:18:13+00:00
"I didn’t think anyone could help, but then I called Angela.  She was great!  After working with her, my son can now self-soothe, doesn’t eat at all throughout the night, and sleeps so much better!!  AMAZING!  Angela was so helpful and it was so great to be able to contact her with the smallest question or concern."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/5/

Cynthia, Old Greenwich, CT

"What I also found so appealing about Angela, is that she respected me as a mother. Her guidance kept me empowered. And she has the sweetest most soothing voice!"
Babes in Sleepland
2017-05-03T13:51:05+00:00
"What I also found so appealing about Angela, is that she respected me as a mother. Her guidance kept me empowered. And she has the sweetest most soothing voice!"
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/cynthia-old-greenwich-ct/

Kate, NY, NY

"After putting Angela’s techniques to use, we had a baby who went from several night wakings to only one waking a night! Angela was a great help, and was sensitive to my beliefs as a...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:16:34+00:00
"After putting Angela’s techniques to use, we had a baby who went from several night wakings to only one waking a night! Angela was a great help, and was sensitive to my beliefs as a parent.  We are so lucky to have worked with her!"
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/1/

Deb, Comox British Columbia

"Angela helped my daughter make the transition to sleeping in her bassinet, and also helped to clarify the basics of baby sleep cycles. Her sleep habits have greatly improved and she is an alert and...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:16:59+00:00
"Angela helped my daughter make the transition to sleeping in her bassinet, and also helped to clarify the basics of baby sleep cycles. Her sleep habits have greatly improved and she is an alert and happy baby. I am so grateful for Angela’s help and would recommend her services to anyone who has questions or problems around their baby’s sleep."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/2/
0
0
Babes in Sleepland

Featured On

healthy-life-logo
wiox-logo
itsyourhealthnetwork
NEW LIVING LO-2
pp-logo

DOWNLOAD A MEDIA KIT

fsi_logo-cert-latest
iacsc-member

© 2023 Babes in Sleepland • Disclaimer • Site Design Graphic Design By Emily