Tips on Sleeping Your Toddler or Baby at Lunchtime
Have one of those babies that simply refuses to sleep? I am in the same position and as he has grown into a toddler I have found the problems worsening, not getting better. Here are my tips on getting your toddler or baby to go to sleep, especially for that crucial afternoon nap.
The problem is not so much the night time sleep because with this sleep you have the routine that goes around it. The whole act of having dinner then a bath, and then finally a bottle helps get your baby relaxed and into the mood for sleeping, but it is during the day that they need that sleep the most, and this is when things get tricky.
I have two young children, neither of whom sleep and so the battle for a good afternoons rest has been never ending, to the point that I think I have tried almost everything. Now the only thing that has consistently worked for me has been the car – but even that requires a deft touch at the best of times. So today I want to share with you some tips on how the family car can be your savior when it comes to getting your infant to sleep in the daytime.
The best way to show you how to make this work first time every time is to list the do’s and do not’s from what I have learned over the many frustrating and sleepless years of trying to get my baby to go to sleep.
Underlying all your success or failure in getting your baby to sleep is the baby car seat. If it is not fitted correctly, has not got the right cover on it for easy breathing and comfort, and is not the right type of seat for your child, then you are doomed from the start. Check out the great range of baby seats, as well as ratings, reviews and recommendations on all models of Baby Car Seats and Covers and guarantee your baby sleeps first time every time.
The First step is to get them into the car. This is fine when you are dealing with a baby but when they get older they start to fight the idea of going for a ‘drive’ because they know what this means. The best thing to do is to distract them and play on their interests. If your Toddler likes Diggers, then suggest going for a drive to find them. Make it fun and they will happily oblige.
The Second Step is to be prepare for all scenarios because as a parent you already know that anything can happen. WIth that I give you a list of handy hints that I have learned and picked up along the way.
Babies who have dummies, which I think is pretty much all of them need to have extras. There is a very probable chance that your baby will throw or spit the dummy on the floor of the car during the drive and if you are driving its a lot easier to reach around with a spare than it is to fish around the floor behind you looking for it. This is an especially helpful tip when there are two kids and one can potentially wake the other.
Also make sure you have some of your baby or toddlers favorite music with you. We will get to why this is important in a minute, but just know that the more familiar you can make the environment and surroundings the more chance you have of success with getting your baby to go to sleep.
The third step is to think ahead, and by this I mean removing all the shoes and heavy garments that will potentially wake your child when you try to remove them later. Think about the transfer later and realise that when your baby finally sleeps you want to make the transition as smooth as possible, for your sake more than anyone’s!
The 4th step is in the way you drive, and believe it or not the advise I give is to drive completely normally. If you don;t then your baby and/or toddler will suspect that something is up, or at least notice something is different. Remember that it is all about familiarity.
Finally, I do not advise sleeping your child in the car, so when you get back home from the drive, transfer them only after you have prepared their room and turned on the music etc. Now cross your fingers and hope they stay asleep as you move them. And that the neighbours dog does not bark at the worst possible time!!
Driving for hours and baby still awake? Maybe it’s as simple as having the wrong baby car seat? Check out the range of Baby Car Seats and Covers today! Everything from Britax Baby Car Seats to Graco Car seats and more!. This article, Tips on Sleeping Your Toddler or Baby at Lunchtime is released under a creative commons attribution license.
