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!
SLEEP TIP #1 |
START EARLY (Blog Post 67) Because the developing brain needs sleep just as the body needs food It is the only organ in the body that has an absolute requirement for sleep A healthy child needs a healthy brain; a healthy brain needs healthy sleep |
SLEEP TIP #2 |
DROWSY BUT AWAKE (Blog Post 9) |
SLEEP TIP #3 |
LEAVE THE ROOM (Blog Post 77) Frequently, but not necessarily always; dose-response |
SLEEP TIP #4 |
MANY HANDS (Blog Post 17 and 18) Get Dad on board |
SLEEP TIP #5 |
MANY NAPS Based on drowsy signs |
SLEEP TIP #6 |
BEDTIME ROUTINES (Blog Post 10) Frequently, but not necessarily always; dose-response Consistency of events sequence |
| SLEEP TIP #7 NIGHT WAKINGS |
LOW INTENSITY SOOTHING at BEDTIME CURTAIN CALLS and Soothe without picking up or feeding |
SLEEP TIP #8 |
EARLY BEDTIMES (Blog Post 91) Start at 6 weeks, corrected age. Based on drowsy signs |
SLEEP TIP #9 |
ESTABLISH NAP SCHEDULE (Blog Posts 53, 54, 55 and 56) Start at 3-4 months of age. Based on drowsy signs |
SLEEP TIP #10 |
SLEEP BEGETS SLEEP |
SLEEP TIP #11 |
AVOID EXCUSES (Blog Post 90A) extreme fussiness/colic (birth–6 months),teething (6–12 months), separation anxiety (12–24 months), “terrible twos” (24–36 months), and fears (36–48 months) and Fake News (Blog Post 90A) |
SLEEP TIP #12 |
SLEEP IS BRAIN FOOD (Blog Post 38) Just as exercise/activity stimulate muscle development, sleep stimulates brain development |
SLEEP TIP #13 |
MOTHER’S SLEEP MATTERS Mothers sleep and mental health improves when her child sleeps better. |
SLEEP TIP #14 |
NO SCREENS (Blog Post 96) No TV or screens during the hour before bedtime and during bedtime routine |
