Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Top parenting stories this week
Summer Sleep Solutions
Long sunny days and busy summer schedules can wreck havoc on sleep routines. Here's how to get back on track.
by: Sydney Loney
In This Article
Summer Sleep
- Many kids don’t get enough sleep in the summer and it can completely change their personalities.
- Kids who go to bed later at night will often wake at the same time they normally would, or sometimes even earlier.
- Napping on the go in a car seat or stroller is not as restorative as motionless sleep in a crib.
- If you’re embarking on a summer excursion, leave first thing in the morning when your child wakes up, or right after a nap so you don’t disrupt his sleep schedule.
- Maintain your nap and bedtime routines no matter where you go so your child knows what to expect and will have less trouble falling asleep.
hether you’re spending the day at the beach or heading off to yet another summer BBQ, chances are your child is no longer on a regular sleep schedule. Here’s how to maintain nap and bedtime routines so your child gets enough sleep in the summer.
Is your child getting enough sleep?
Many kids don’t get enough sleep in the summer and it can completely alter their personalities, says Ariana Birnbaum, founder of Becoming Maternity and Parenting Centres in Toronto. “If your child seems more irritable or argumentative than usual, take a look at how much sleep he’s getting.”
Parents often try to make the most of the warm summer months and all that extra activity can mean that children don’t get the sleep they need. If you have a “go with the flow” kind of kid, they may be able to catch up on missed sleep by adjusting their sleep patterns, says Birnbaum. For instance, some children who go to bed later will just sleep in to make up for it.
“If your child is still alert, engaged and not more irritable, then they’re probably okay,” Birnbaum says. “You can put some kids to bed at nine or 10 at night and they will sleep in and be fine.” But, she says, most kids under age six are adversely affected by sudden shifts in their sleep schedules. “Even if they go to bed later, they will often wake at the same time they normally would, or sometimes even earlier.”
Part of the problem is that an over-tired child may seem wide awake, so you think that they’re sleeping enough. However, if you notice little changes–they may not be as easygoing as usual, it may take you longer to get them out the door in the morning, or they might be slightly more prone to temper tantrums–these are all are signs they need more sleep.
