Getting toddlers back on sleep schedule after summer
Well Mama, you owe yourself a big congratulations! You made it through summer.
If you’re anything like me, you feel like you have had all the playdates, afternoons of swimming, maybe some day trips to the beach, or even a vacation. All the boxes for a fun and active summer have been checked. I’m exhausted just thinking back to it!
With all of this fun it is so easy to feel like your once healthy early bedtime has turned into a later bedtime. I don’t know how it happens, but I am also guilty. I think this really is a fine thing to do. After all, it’s summer. The sun is up so much later and the kids are all having fun.
With the change of the season, it is a great time to get back on track with your normal bedtime.
So the million dollar question… how do you get back on track?
If your little ones are anything like mine, their wake time didn’t change at all. So in my house we made this change rather abruptly. Two days before school started we implemented our normal bed time.
Were there grumbles?
Yes!
Did they take a while to fall asleep the first few nights?
Yes!
Are we back to appropriate bedtimes now?
Yes!!
Now… maybe you are blessed with kids who sleep in after going to bed late. That is amazing and makes for fun summer nights and mornings.
With this situation there are a few more steps you can take to help your little one get back on track, and you know what Im about to say. Yes, you have to wake them up earlier in the morning. I know it sounds awful to wake your child who is sleeping blissfully into the morning, but is a must.
This doesn’t have to be complicated, start today. Wake your little one up at the time that is appropriate for an earlier bedtime.
Will they be a little grumpy?
Possibly
Will they need an earlier nap time?
Possibly
Will they be ready for an earlier bed time?
YES!!
Will you have your evenings back to read, sit by the fire, adult time…or maybe just watch trash TV if that’s your jam.
YES!!
Happy Fall y’all and welcome back to earlier bedtimes. I know I am so happy to get back to it!
Sincerely,
AM
AM Smiles is a highly effective baby sleep coaching service designed for busy families.
I help you harness the power of sleep training to improve the spirits and lives of you and your family through proper rest. I’d love to talk to you about your little one and help you get back to living life well rested! ❤️
