Appropriate schedule
Time to make a nap transition?
Putting down 10-15 minutes prior to the end of wake time?
Set desired wake time, set 1st nap time?
Set Schedule?
How is the child handling the wake times?
Excessive napping during the day?
Quality of Wake time:
Sunlight exposure
Adequate time for Physical Activity
Outside playtime
Not dozing, snoozing, etc at all during wake time
Assess mood during wake times.
How is mood as nap time/bedtime approaches?
Eating:
- Milk- drinking enough overall? Is baby hungry?
- Eat, Play, Sleep Routine
- No drowsiness or falling asleep while eating
- Good quality feeds
- Would Eat, Play, Eat, Play Sleep Benefit baby?
- Solids
- Is child eating enough healthy fats?
- Is child eating enough solids?
- Is child overeating solids, not enough milk?
Sleep Environment:
Dark
Cool
Is Child at an appropriate temperature? Does he need a sleep sack for warmth? Are they to hot? Adjust clothes under sleep sack.
White noise on all night, with a constant sound, not songs.
No external disturbances
No distractions in bed (toy, book, etc)
Sleep Props:
No Sleep props at any sleep period- Rocking, shushing, patting, bouncing, pacifier, etc.
No drowsiness going into bed.
Nap Routine:
5 Min nap consistent routine
Abbreviated Bedtime routine. Does this resemble bedtime enough to be a good cue?
No Drowsiness, no rocking, cuddling, etc that may be leading to drowsiness
Going into bed wide awake
Is nap routine too short, does a step need to be added?
Bedtime Routine:
30-45 minute routine.
Feeding must be at the beginning of the routine- he MUST stay awake
- Feeding must end 20-30 minutes before getting into bed.
- Feeding must end 20-30 minutes before getting into bed.
Feed, bath, books, pjs, kiss, into bed wide awake
No sleep props, no drowsiness, no “calming” before getting into bed.
Lights on during bedtime routine.
Falling asleep at bedtime:
Avoid too much intervention in your sleep method
Avoid Sleep Props or assistance to sleep
Allow him to settle to sleep on his own
Night Waking’s:
What’s happening at night waking’s
Too much assistance or intervention?
For older children- is child waiting for parent to tuck in?
Is there confusion- handling NW differently each night?
Any confusion with night feedings?
Should night feeds be pulled if ongoing?
Caregiver consistency:
Are parents doing the exact same thing? Responding in the exact same way?
Are there other caregivers that may be slowing down the progress?
Pooping:
Adjust timing of feeds in relation to sleep
For a toddler nap pooping, have more time between lunch and nap time
Solids- give “dinner foods” for breakfast, and breakfast foods for dinner.
Solids- Give foods that encourage child to “go” in the morning- prunes, pears, plums, etc, and more binding food in the evening- banana, oatmeal, etc.
It may just be a matter of time and consistency for the digestive tract to get used to the new schedule.
Health:
Teething, ears, cold?
Reflux- meds need adjusting?
Weight gain appropriate?
Low Iron? Low Vit D? Low Magnesium?
Skills:
Are they working on a new skill at the moment?
Are they in a wonder week?
Split night?
Some babies will wake up during the night and stay awake for an hour or two. This is called Split Night wakening.
Split nights mean not enough sleep pressure, may need longer wake times, shorter naps. Make sure child is not “sleeping in” in the morning. Make sure bedtime isn’t too early.