What is the sweet spot?
3 minute read
Your child’s sweet spot is the best time for them to fall asleep! You’ll probably have the most success with independent and longer stretches of sleep when you learn how to find it… and you’ll get better at it with each time you try. It’s not always easy, but considering all the following factors can really help!
Their age - this determines the biological requirement of the amount of sleep your child needs every day.
Their current temperament - it might take some time to learn your child’s sleep cues and they may change as they grow. Learning to spot signs of tiredness or lack of focus can be a steep learning curve for parents. I find this is the most difficult one for parents to communicate to other caregivers as well. One important thing to remember is that sleep is just as important as eating… and some children need to have their nap even before they will eat their next meal. Cries are not always just because they’re hungry.
Their regular schedule - *Sometimes kids don’t give strong sleep cues!* Our sweet little ones don’t always tell us that they’re tired or need to sleep. They can be happy all day long and even sleep generally well at night, but it’s important to still be aware of how much sleep is necessary for healthy development at each age. Providing consistent opportunities to nap in the same environment with the same routine every day is key. You don’t want to wait UNTIL you have a fussy baby to try for a nap. It’s best to try before they’re fussy - you’ll have less fussing and protesting overall if they’re not as tired and all out of sorts yet, and they will start to like their bed more. Can you imagine your 8 month old smiling while you zip up her sleep sack and diving into her crib because she knows she’s about to enjoy a sleep? It could be you!
Also, you might be surprised at the difference you see in your *happy* little one when you keep a little more of a regular schedule for when they’re in the crib even if they don’t sleep in there the whole time. They may never tell you they’re tired, but they still need sleep.
The amount of time since they last woke up - this is their most recent wake window. We all build up sleep pressure and we need to have enough of it to fall asleep, but if our children’s wake windows are stretched, they will become overtired which makes it even harder to fall asleep!
Brain cells called astrocytes fuel the urge to sleep by releasing adenosine, a chemical known to have sleep-inducing effects. The longer a person is awake, the stronger the urge to sleep becomes. This is known as sleep pressure - and it’s a part of sleep for people of all ages! Check it out here!
What happened in the last 24-48 hours - Were you on the go for the morning? Did you have visitors in your home? Did something wonky happen in the early morning which threw things off? Is your child experiencing a developmental milestone like learning to crawl or eating solids? Sicknesses, teething, growth spurts and regressions also play a role here too. All of these can be disruptive to our child’s sleep but they all might also mean they need MORE sleep than usual.
We went on a big road trip yesterday and we are all super tired today, so we will be adjusting naps and bedtimes to accommodate a speedy recovery! Just the same, if my almost-four-year-old son has soccer or preschool and then a playdate, we likely will make sure he takes a nap in the afternoon. Other days that are more chill may call for just a quiet time. Any other interruptions or major differences in the last day or so could also influence your child’s sleep needs AND sleep success.
As with EVERYTHING in the world of sleep and all things parenting, remember that you know your child better than I do and what’s most important is that things are working for you and your family. I’m here to help when you need help and I hope this resource has provided insightful information that can be beneficial to you (or someone you might know), but take what you want and don’t worry about the rest! Sleep well =)
-Keara
