It’s that time of year when cold and flu germs are in high circulation and can take hold of even the littlest member of your family. One question I get a lot from parents (particularly previous clients whose children have been sleeping beautifully) is—’what do I do when baby gets sick’? Parents want to tend to all their children’s aches and pains diligently, and keep them comfortable of course, but there is still that nagging fear in the back of their heads that they are undoing all of the great progress they made on sleep.
Here’s what I say. Don’t worry about it!
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There, isn’t that refreshing? One LESS thing to worry about as a parent?
Sleep Tips For When Baby Gets Sick
Really. Don’t worry about it. And I’ll tell you why. First, parental instinct is a powerful thing. Don’t ignore it.
Everybody wants to feel comforted when they’re sick, particularly our little ones who can’t even understand why they’re feeling the way they do. So when they are looking for some extra help to get to sleep while sick, give it to them. The beauty of having a great schedule and overall good sleep habits most of the time, is that you can always go back to them after deviations like travel, fun, or, yes, sickness. So rest easy. If your little one is sick, tend to them, cuddle them, let them sleep when they want, hold them a little bit more. As soon as they turn the corner, go back to the solid sleep habits you had before. You’ll be surprised how quickly they get back on board.
And remember, the better they sleep, the stronger their immune system. So if your baby has been practicing good sleep habits, hopefully any illness will be short lived or will skip your little one altogether!
Tip for Parents – Remember that dealing with a sick baby is exhausting for you too. When things get back on track, make sure you fill your own sleep tank and head to bed early (or take a proper nap or two) for a few days in a row. This will help you fight off the germs that were just giving your baby a hard time!
Written by Good Night Sleep Site Consultant.
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