When a baby’s sleep schedule conflicts with a sibling’s school schedule, can prove to be very difficult. The older child needs to be brought to school and picked up from school at certain times, and there are after-school activities and errands to do. You also know your baby needs sleep. How can the different schedules be reconciled?
Babies Need a Large Amount of Sleep
Let’s start with a reminder of how much sleep a baby needs. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour day. Babies need lots of rest to support the rapid way they are growing both physically and mentally. Think of their time in the womb, safe and secure in a dark, warm place, sleeping whenever they needed it. Infants need a safe, secure napping time as a place to recharge after being awake in the bright, stimulating world of their loving family. Sleep is vitally important to a baby.
Follow Routines
Of course, your older children have needs as well. Parents sometimes get compared to superheroes, meeting many different needs every single day. Parenting superpowers come from learning how to work routines into their family’s life. Getting ready for school is an important routine for any family with school-age children. Is baby awake during this time? Involve him in the routine. Try to feed the baby before your other children need you, and then carry him in a secure sling as you prepare breakfast for the others. Let baby watch from an infant chair as his older sibling gets dressed. Take baby along for a car ride to school. If the baby regularly falls asleep in the car, then let that be part of his sleep routine.
Is your baby napping when it’s time to pick your older child up from school? You may have to wake him up. Also, ask yourself if there’s anyone who could watch the sleeping baby while you’re picking up the older child. A helping hand is often needed during these infant months, so don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask.
Also, consider the time you will spend with your school-age child. The afternoon hours after school might be a perfect time to play a game, talk about school, or do a craft together. It may be a nice routine for your infant to nap after bringing your child home from school. This allows you to spend quality one-on-one time with each child.
Be realistic
As much as you would like your baby’s nap time to coincide perfectly with your older child’s school schedule, it doesn’t always happen. Even the best routines get thrown out the window some days. When a baby’s sleep schedule doesn’t go as planned, be creative. Get someone else to take the older child to school. Take a long, scenic drive after school if baby has finally settled down in the car. Involve your older child with soothing the baby before and after school while you prepare a meal. On the flip side, if baby is sleeping at an unusual time and your older child needs to be quiet, make the quiet time fun by whispering books to her on the couch or rolling a soft ball across the floor to each other.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
If your baby lost some nap time during the day, try to get in extra sleep time at night. Babies need those blocks of sleep! Don’t worry about ridiculously early bedtimes. Making up for lost sleep is a good reason to put baby to bed early. Don’t forget to practice good sleeping habits yourself! A well-rested parent can meet the different needs of multiple children much better than a sleepy, cranky parent.
As you balance the routines of babies and school-age children, ask yourself where you can be flexible, and where you need to set firm priorities. Work out solutions that will allow your baby to sleep often and will also give you time to meet your older child’s needs. It will be difficult at times, but the rewards of parenting are countless. Keep loving your children!
