Blog Posts 1–5, based on the United States of America Department of the Army Field Manual: Holistic Healing and Fitness, describe what really matters for your child’s sleep. If sleep is an important enough topic for national defense than surely sleep should be considered a serious topic for parenting!
Parents make decision to help their child’s sleep. Parents choose:
Early bedtimes based on drowsy signs.
Nap opportunities.
Soothing style and emotional availability.
Bedtime routines: style, duration, consistency, and frequency. Avoid screens.
Drowsy but awake.
Leave the room after soothing
Ignore very quiet non-distress sounds at night.
Feed only when hungry at night.
Encourage fathers and others to help.
Separate sleeping surface, safe sleep practices.
Some parents make decisions that hinder their child’s sleep because of anxiety, depression, cognitive biases, maternal insomnia, marital conflict, lack of teamwork or ignorance about the value of healthy sleep for their child. Sometimes a community sleep consultant is needed, or other professional help is needed to make healthy sleep decisions for your child.
S: SOOTHE to drowsy but awake. Blog Post 9
L: LEAVE the room after soothing. Blog Post 77
E: EARLY bedtimes based on drowsy signs. Blog Post 162
E: EYELIDS drooping are unhealthy fatigue signs. Blog Post 9
P: PRACTICE bedtime routines every night. Blog Post 10
