Sleep tips

Sleep (or lack of) is one of peoples main issues when it comes to having children.

I'm currently working with 6 families who are in need of some more sleep. It's so very easy to get into a 'bad habit' when it comes to sleep. We'll do what we can to get more z's.
I only work with parents who are in need of a change, they come to me when they don't know what else to try.

Here are a few of my favorite sleep tips.

I can't stress enough the importance of having blackout blinds at the windows. Here in Seattle, during the summer, it gets light really early in the morning and stays light very late. If your childs room is too light, when your child comes into a light sleep they are very likely to fully wake. You don't really want to encourage that at 4:30 am!
You don't need to get blackout blinds, you can buy the blackout fabric at any fabric store. Cut it to the size of your window and velcro it into place. You can easily take it down during the day and place it up for naps and night time. Some people even put a blanket up at the window to make the room darker.

If your child is waking too early in the morning you can put a night light on a timer set to your acceptable wake up time. From the age of around 18 months children will be able to look over the the night light on waking. If it's off it's time to go back to sleep, if it's on your child can get up.
If your child suddenly starts waking early, they may be ready to cut down on naps. Shorten the time of naps or cut them out all together.