Life Feeling Out Of Control with COVID-19? This Is the Perfect Time to Sleep Train

Don't worry, I don't feel like this either. 

Hey there, friend? Are you, by any chance, stuck at home with one or more little ones right now? Is life feeling out of control? Are you anxious? Unproductive? Feeling disconnected?

Yup, me too. 

But I realized this morning that that feeling serves no one. 

We are all in a tough situation right now. Why not do what we can to give ourselves a sense of control? And help our families feel their best? 

If your child is not getting the sleep he needs, he's likely going to be wound up and hyperactive. Even if you have a very chill little one, I promise he will be even more calm and focused when he's getting the sleep he needs. 

Coronavirus is providing us many of us with the ideal opportunity to change our lives, establish new habits and yes, sleep train. When will you again have such control over your child's schedule? 

Also, if your child is sleeping on a predictable schedule, you'll know that you have set periods each day to focus on your work. That is going to relieve some of your stress, whether you are working for pay or a stay at home parent. Here are some things that can help:

• If you can safely take your child outside each day, do it. To avoid uneccesary contact with others, go out as early as you can. Avoid playgrounds if you can, but if you can't, better to be the first ones there. Fresh air, daylight, and exercise helps with stress management and cue children's body clocks to wake and sleep at regular times. 
  
  
• If you can't go outside, figure out ways to get exercise inside. I just ordered a mini trampoline for my little one. We also tried Cosmic Yoga for Kids last night and it was amazing.  Each episode is based on a story -- we tried one based on the movie Frozen -- and it completed captured my children's attention and they did the whole routine without my participation. Win! It totally changed the craziness of our evening together. Best of all, it's zero-impact so it won't disturb your downstairs neighbors!
  
  Likewise, get some exercise for yourself. I love Fitness Blender -- they have tons of free fitness videos for all fitness levels and interests. I enjoy my children a lot more when I am getting regular exercise. 
  
  
• Make a routine for your family. Write it down and draw pictures on it if your child can't read. Remind your child of the schedule at regular intervals. It gives everyone a sense of control. "It's time for breakfast now. After breakfast, we will get dressed and go out for a walk. Then we will come home and do puzzles before snacktime." Try to keep the schedule consistent each day.
  
  
• Plan for independent play time for your child. Practicing this skill each day will help her get better at it, no matter what her age. Set a timer and extend the time slightly each day.
  
  
• It's okay if your child resists independent play. It's okay if he is bored. Just keep reiterating the same boring but positive message, "this is your time to play by yourself while Mommy does work. When the timer goes off, we will have snack time."
  
  Giving children space to be bored develops their ability to play creatively. It's not a problem to be solved; it's an opportunity for growth. Please don't rush in with extra entertainment or worse, screens. Screens can be useful tools but their use should be planned and limited. 
  
  
• If your child is accustomed to falling asleep with you in the room, consider weaning them off this habit. You are going to need every bit of alone time you can get. I suggest setting a timer for how long you will stay with her -- you can let your child hit the start button to give her a sense of control. When the timer goes off, set a new timer and say, "I need to go wash the dishes now. I'll come back in 5 minutes to check on you." After the first check, set the timer for a slightly longer interval. Keep leaving and coming back at longer intervals until your child is asleep.
  
  
• Make sure your child has an early bedtime. I recommend 7 pm or earlier for most children under 6. Ideal bedtimes make it easier for children to fall asleep and stay asleep all night.
  
  
• Make sure that naptimes are at ideal biological times. For most children, this is 9 am and 1 pm for twice-a -day nappers and 12 pm for once-a-day nappers.
  
  

What if coronavirus is actually providing us with an amazing opportunity to change our lives for the better? If you've been holding off on sleep training, this is the perfect time to take the plunge. If you'd like support in this new family adventure, schedule a free chat and get your family the sleep you deserve. 
​