One of the worst things a parent has to deal with is that nasty thing, that evil thing: the lack of sleep. Whether it is because you are within your first few weeks, (or months) of mommyhood, or because your toddler WILL NOT stay in their bed, or because your young child plays the "I need" game, (Mommy, I need to go potty, or Mommy, I need something to drink)you are not getting enough sleep, but frankly neither is your child, and you need to rectify this situation immediately.
Here are some tips for each stage of parenting, to deal with a child who needs more sleep.
1. For Infants: When your new baby has just come home, and until it is about 4 months old, the fact is, the baby is probably getting enough sleep, but you are definitely not. The baby needs their every 2-4 hour feedings, and there is no changing this in the earliest stage of their life. So, unless you have a baby nurse, you need to find a way to get more sleep. There is a way to do it, but your husband may not like it. Instead of taking on the whole load Mommies, let Daddy help a bit. (This only works if you pump, or if you are formula-feeding) So, you give your baby the evening feed, and then hit the sack! You go to bed around 9, and then let Daddy take over the next feeding. He will go to bed around 12:30, and then you take the 3:00 feeding, and there you go! For the first time in months, you will have slept 6 hours straight, and Daddy gets up for work with about the same amount of sleep under his belt, and baby gets time with both of you. It's win-win-win!
2. For Toddlers: This is a bit more difficult, because your children are in the stage of life, where they are trying with all their might to be in charge. But Mommies and Daddies, DO NOT ALLOW IT, you are the boss applesauce! When a child will not stay in bed it is time to be tough. ABC's SuperNanny's "Stay in bed technique" works like a charm. There are a few easy steps, (and a few long nights, but you can do it!)
1. Make a bed-time routine. Kids NEED this. Bath-time, Jammies, a prayer and a book with some snuggles, and then it's Bed-time.
2. If your child gets up, put them back in bed, and say "It's bedtime Honey" and walk out.
3. If they get up again, put them in bed and say, "Bedtime." And nothing else, and then leave.
4. If they get up again, and any time after this, say nothing, and put them back in bed and leave. Eventually they will fall asleep, and be in their own bed. There may be a lot of crying, fits, and you may feel like giving in. But DON'T! You are doing a great job, and doing the right thing. Because this little one needs sleep, and so do you. This shows them that you are in charge, and that bedtime is not playtime. End of story. This also works when you are trying to get a child out of your bed. (Which is a BAD habit to begin.)
3. A Young Child When your child is quietly in bed it is the best feeling. And then you hear, "Mommy?" And then that feeling is gone. So you need to keep that young one in his/her bed for the night. A routine is important, which includes a drink of water from a small cup and then potty-time. Then you will have covered all the bases, and the child will have no excuse. So, discuss with your child, that getting up from his/her bed is unacceptable, (besides using the restroom) and you will not allow it. You may consider allowing one freebie, one "Mommy, I need" per night, (though it's not really suggested.) Allow the child, if they are at an age when you trust them in the bathroom, to use the bathroom without having to announce it to the household. Tell them to quietly get up and use the bathroom and then straight back to bed. Another suggestion, is that if the child is old enough, allow a few minutes of in-bed alone reading time, to let him/her ease into night-night time. But if the child keeps getting up, time after time, and are too old for the "Stay in Bed Technique," it's time to enforce whatever type of discipline you use, so that they know, "It's bedtime, and I am meant to stay in bed."
These things are relatively simple and work quite well. Hopefully they help you to get some good, hard sleep, so that you are refreshed for next day of parenthood, and the next enjoyable challenge.
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