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How best to deal with the nursery transition and its impact on your little one's sleep?

If you're in the process of settling your baby or toddler into nursery or have recently made that transition and you're seeing sleep go downhill, know that this is normal.


Comfort toys and blankets can help with separation anxiety
Comfort toys and blankets can help with separation anxiety

Any change can impact your baby's sleep. Emotions are a key component to consider when trying to improve sleep. Think about when you go through change such as starting a new job, moving house, having a baby (okay, there is a bigger reason why your sleep may change for this one...) - it is likely that your sleep will be negatively impacted for a short while during these transitions. It may be from anxiety, over-stimulation or generally feeling unsettled. These are the same emotions that your baby may be feeling.


During this time of change, offer your baby extra reassurance and comfort during waking hours. Instead of one book before a nap or bedtime, try a couple of books and a lullaby for example. If your baby has a lovey or comfort toy, encourage attachment to it by giving it to him whenever you're having some calm, bonding time. This will help him to associate it with security and comfort, and help him self-settle when he is cuddling it in his cot.


Frequent changes you may see during this transition include:

  • Increased crying when put down for a nap/bedtime

  • More frequent night wakings

  • Shorter naps

  • Nap strikes (both at home and at nursery)

  • Overtiredness, leading to irritability or hyperactivity


Once your baby is settled into nursery and you have been consistent with your routine and approach to soothing/wakings, sleep should settle down and revert to pre-nursery behaviour. However, parents often find that they introduce new habits during this transitional period to provide more comfort and help their baby fall asleep. For example, some may start rocking to sleep, feeding to sleep, co-sleeping, staying in their baby's room until they are asleep etc. Some babies who had previously been night-weaned may start feeding through the night again, which is often for comfort as opposed to hunger.


If you are about to embark on the nursery transition, the best advice I can give you is to stay consistent. Stick to your routine as much as possible (with the caveat that your baby may need an earlier bedtime on nursery days), offer more comfort but try not to introduce new habits, and try not to reintroduce night-feeds if your baby has already been weaned. Most importantly of all, if your baby can self-settle, encourage him to keep doing so.

 

If you are a parent who has already gone through the nursery transition and you are finding your baby is less able to self-settle and his routine has gone awry, don't panic! You will be able to get things back on track in a matter of weeks if you put the time and effort in to do so. Saying this, if you and your baby are happy with how things are going, stick with it! There is no right or wrong with sleep - the only time you need to make a change is when something has stopped working for your family and it is having a negative impact on your lives.


I'm always happy to chat :)



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