The Sleep Lady Sets the Record StraightIn the April 2010 issue of Be the Best Nanny Newsletter we discussed infant sleep. On Saturday we will review The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight
by Kim West. The author, (also known as The Sleep Lady), shares common sleep myth busters with nannies and au pairs.If I skip a child’s nap, he will sleep longer at night. Also, the later I put a child to bed, the later he’ll sleep in the morning.
Sleep Lady: The more overtired you allow the child to get, the more wired he’ll get – making it harder for him to get sleep and stay asleep. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but the later the child goes to sleep, the earlier he’ll wake up.
Newborns sleep all the time and know what they need. You don’t need to schedule their sleep times.
Sleep Lady: Even very young babies benefit from scheduling and consistency at night time and nap time. It cuts down on their crankiness and crying, and lays the groundwork for learning how to sleep through the night once they’re a little older.
Children know when they’re sleepy and when they should go to bed.
Sleep Lady: Not once they learn to fight sleep for your company! Children need our direction and guidance with a soothing bedtime routine to help them slow down and transition to sleep. Once you get the child on a consistent schedule, you can plan your day better and can count on having a happy awake child.
Stop by tomorrow for more Sleep Myth Busters by Kim West author of Sleep Lady’s Good Night Sleep Tight.
Do you have any infant sleep tips for other nannies and au pairs?
Stop by tomorrow for more Sleep Myth Busters by Kim West author of Sleep Lady’s Good Night Sleep Tight.
Do you have any infant sleep tips for other nannies and au pairs?
Movement helps a baby sleep be it the swing, stroller, car.
ReplyDeleteI like her advice about rocking and stroking and speaking softly while rocking a baby and not letting a kid fall asleep grasping your finger or hand because she will wake up when you move and you'll have to start all over again.
ReplyDeleteI like her middle of the road advice that isn't too strict but some structure to it.
ReplyDeleteThis book is a great reference for child sleep. It gives average sleep needs for children from birth to five-years-old. It also gives some tips on helping children sleep as they grow. The family I work for loves this book.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people claim this is gentle. Her methods seem strict or firm to me.
ReplyDeleteSandra Kinney Montecito, CA