Quality and Quantity of Sleep {Sleep Tip of the Month}

Lauren Boston is back on the blog this month sharing another sleep tip just for you.  Lauren is a certified sleep coach and DONA trained postpartum doula.  Her passion for helping tired parents began when her own newborn daughter's constant crying and terrible sleep habits finally got the best of her.

Lauren's Sleep Tip of the Month:

I think it's safe to say that almost everyone knows that sleep is important for babies and children alike, but what some parents don't know is that the quality of sleep is just as important as the quantity.

I don't think this counts as quality sleep.

This means getting:

• The right kind of sleep - unfragmented, uninterrupted, and "motionless."  Don't wake your baby to eat unless they physically need to eat (most babies on a normal growth curve don't need to be fed in the night after 6/7 months of age).  Don't rock, swing or put your baby in the car for their naps, as movement keeps the brain in a lighter sleep, which is not as restorative to the brain as a deep sleep.

• The right timing for sleep - as in consistent bedtimes, wake-up times, and nap times.

• The right amount of sleep - have a look at how much sleep your child should be getting based on their age, and your child shouldn't vary from these averages by more than 1 hour in a 24 hour period.  

Visit my website or Like me on Facebook for more information, and the latest updates on children's sleep!

According to the experts Leila is getting more sleep than the average child needs. 

Did you read the last line of the second paragraph... 
The expert said it, not me.  ;)

Is your child getting enough quality sleep?

Toddler bedtime routine

Is it 7:30 yet?

Some days I find myself asking this as early as six o'clock, yet other days 7:30 sneaks up on us.



Leila's bedtime has been early since she was four months old. I remember rushing through dinner to be home from my parents' rental by 6:15 so Leila could be in bed by 6:30. Those days she was not sleeping through the night, so I was practically going to bed with her!

When she was seven months old Leila was taking two regular naps and also started sleeping through the night. We implemented a 7pm-7am sleep rule in our house after seeing it work successfully for other families we knew.

It's pretty simple.  Basically Leila would be in her crib from 7pm to 7am each night. Personally we have found many benefits to our sleep rule...the most valuable being Leila's ability to self-soothe herself (back) to sleep.

Now as a toddler, Leila has pretty amazing sleep habits. (I hate saying this aloud in fear of jinxing myself, but we all know that can't really happen, right?) This girl loves her crib!

Her bedtime routine begins between 7:00 and 7:30 by saying "night-night" to Mommy and her toys upstairs.

Jeff brings her down to her room and gets her ready for bed (pajamas, overnight diaper, sleep-sack, and teeth brushed). Then he carries Leila around her room to say goodnight to her things, something that we started from the beginning.  Jeff reads her a few books, puts her in her crib with her stuffed animals and pacifiers, says "I love you", and closes the door.

That's it...short, sweet, and simple.

Since we implemented the 7pm-7am sleep rule we haven't had to go check on her at all. Not once.

Until last night.

Either teething or nap skipping was the culprit. I blame them both.



At 9:00 Leila was still awake in her crib playing, whining, crying, and finally sobbing. Jeff went in to check on her and although she didn't want to see him leave, she eventually feel asleep peacefully.

And guess what? She slept in today to make up for the hours she missed last night.

I love it when life works out like that!

The 7pm- 7am sleep rule has worked for us.  Share your success story! 

What has worked for you and your family?