Establishing a Sleep Schedule
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As your little one creeps closer to the 1-year mark, you might be hoping (and maybe praying) that sleep becomes easier. The truth is, even at 10-months, sleeping can still be a struggle. But, with some insight into sleep regressions and tips on how to handle sleepless nights, you and your baby can be well on your way to a better sleep schedule.
First thing’s first, at 10-months your baby needs between 12 and 15 hours of sleep per day, while Stanford Children’s Health states that 14 hours per day is the optimal amount for this age group. Of course, each baby is different, so this is more of a guideline, but it offers a better idea if they seem fussier than normal.
When it comes to sleep regressions, try to remember that it’s normal and they tend to only last a few weeks or so. If you keep your schedule as consistent as you can during a sleep regression, your baby will remember their routine when they settle and things will get back to normal sooner than later.
As for the sleep schedule itself, a sleepwear company by the name of Nested Bean has an awesome sample to follow. Just remember to match your schedule to your baby’s needs.
Now for the tips you’ve been waiting for! Here are some surefire ways to get baby sleeping like a champ.
- Give baby enough awake time. At 10 months old, your baby will likely want to spend a little more time awake between naps than before; and, if they don’t get to, they can resist the sleep schedule. So, the time between naps is a great chance to play and let them practice their budding skills, and you just might tire them out enough to help them sleep more soundly.
- Better sleepwear. As mentioned above, Nested Bean is a company that offers innovative sleepwear to help baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. For a 10-month-old, their Zen Sleep Sack might be just what you need. This wearable blanket is gently weighted to mimic your soothing touch and can encourage your baby to learn how to self-soothe through wake-ups when you aren’t around by helping them feel snug and secure through nap time and nighttime.
- Tuck your baby in while they’re drowsy. Keep an eye on your baby’s sleep cues in order to put them to bed while drowsy. This is to prevent negative sleep associations that require your presence to help them fall asleep and aren’t sustainable in the long term.
- Create a soothing sleep environment. By using products like blackout curtains and a white noise machine, you can keep the room dark and quiet enough for your baby to sleep soundly no matter what’s happening outside of their room.
- Establish a calming bedtime routine. This goes hand in hand with having a calm sleep space. Whether your routine involves a warm bath and a long story or simply a kiss and cuddle goodnight, doing this each night gives your baby a better chance of falling asleep and staying asleep.
For more tips on getting a sleep schedule implemented for your little one, check out Nested Beans’ full blog post on the subject. Then, head over to their site to see what other products might be helpful!
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- Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.
This is great advice for new parents, thanks for sharing! It can be difficult to have a newborn but having a schedule and keeping to it really helps.
Some great tips here, as a mother of ten and grandmother pf eighteen and counting, I can honestly say that
Thanks for the great post! I used to do this with my 3, and my daughter had so much trouble with her three. I gave her this advice, and told her how it helped me knowing that after 7:00ish pm, they were in bed and I had my evening free.
My sleep schedule could use a tune up, been sleeping late and getting up later than I want to.
My sleep schedule was pretty bad. I have a insomnia problem.
Great tips, my sleep schedule is terrible so I can definitely use these.
Thank you for the tips!