BEDTIME STORIES

GOT A LITTLE SICKIE ON YOUR HANDS?
SLEEP COACH KATHY SINCLAIR TELLS YOU HOW TO GET YOUR LITTLE ONE THE REST HE NEEDS WHEN HE'S NOT FEELING GOOD.

When baby is sick, your whole world stops and everything
is turned upside down—including his hard-earned sleep training.

So, just what are you supposed to do about it?

Nothing. Allow your baby to sleep wherever he is comfortable
and whenever he wants to doze off, regardless of the time of day or night.

For Cold Ease

Put a humidifier in his room.
Elevate the head of his bed for easier breathing.
Put some cough and cold bubble bath in his bath*.
Put some Vicks BabyRub on his chest, if your doctor approves*.
Your baby can sleep in the bouncy seat (keeps your baby in an upright position, which makes for easier breathing).
Your baby can sleep in a swing (also keeps your baby in an upright position, which makes for easier breathing).
Offer some cool chamomile tea.
Check your baby’s temperature.
Call your pediatrician.

(*Numbers 3 and 4 are for babies older than 6 months.)

For Queasy Ease

Feed your baby when he wants to eat.
Feed your baby only as much as he wants to eat—don’t push it.
Check your baby’s temperature.
Keep some Pedialyte on hand.
Contact your pediatrician.

You are probably thinking that you are ruining all the work you put in to sleep training. Well, in a way you are, but you have no choice. Babies need extra TLC when they are sick. Granted, you can try to stick with your baby’s schedule as best you can, for feeding and nap times and also for bedtime (even if it's all off by as much as 30 minutes), but don't get discouraged if that schedule goes out the window. If you need to hold or rock your baby to sleep, that is okay. You may even need to hold him while he sleeps so he is in an upright position, for easier breathing and/or comfort. The most important thing is to remember to give your baby lots of snuggles and tons of mommy/daddy time while he is sick.

Just be sure to get back on track with your schedule as soon as your baby is better. You may have to sleep train your baby again, but don’t worry, it will be only for one or two nights at most. Just make sure that your baby is 100 percent better before you start to institute a schedule.

Oh, and get some zzz’s yourself when your baby is sleeping—it's not an easy time for you, either.

Kathy Sinclair, CNCS, CPD, CLE, CHBE, graduated from Australia’s prestigious Charlton Brown Nanny College and began her professional career as a nanny in 1993. Kathy developed her specialty with infant sleep while working as a newborn care specialist in Los Angeles. Currently the founder of Baby Sleep Solutions, Kathy provides one-on-one individualized sleep consultations, leads Mommy & Infant groups for new moms, and lectures on sleep in and around Los Angeles. She lives in Ventura, Calif., with her husband and three dogs. She may be contacted through her website at www.babysleepsolutionsla.com.

BEDTIME STORIES

GOT A LITTLE SICKIE ON YOUR HANDS? SLEEP COACH KATHY SINCLAIR TELLS YOU HOW TO GET YOUR LITTLE ONE THE REST HE NEEDS WHEN HE'S NOT FEELING GOOD.

GOT A LITTLE SICKIE ON YOUR HANDS?
SLEEP COACH KATHY SINCLAIR TELLS YOU HOW TO GET YOUR LITTLE ONE THE REST HE NEEDS WHEN HE'S NOT FEELING GOOD.