Sleep for Siblings
It might sound like an oxymoron, but good sleep is a thing even with more than one child. And it’s up to you, Mom and Dad, to make it a thing and keep it a thing. As a sleep consultant who had 3 kids in 5 years, I’m sharing my best advice to achieve good sleep for brothers and sisters.
room sharing
Children and babies tend to sleep better when room sharing with siblings rather than with parents. And, needless to say, most parents sleep better too!
Babies can move in with siblings as soon as they move out of their parents’ room (which should happen before babies are 8 months old).
For many, having their baby sleeping through the night is a necessary step before moving baby in with a sibling. (Sleeping 11-12 hours straight is possible for younger babies but it’s common for babies 6 months and up.)
For others, they choose to improve both children’s sleep simultaneously. And still others, move the better sleeping child out of the shared room while making improvements with the other before keeping them in together overnight.
If the older child is a toddler or preschooler who no longer sleeps in a crib, be sure to have a conversation with them about never climbing or putting anything into their sibling’s crib.
Whatever sibling situation you’ve got, there’s a way to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved!
how to do sibling bedtimes
The next big decision is whether to do your children’s bedtimes at the same time or to stagger them. There are pros and cons to both and, likely, this will fluctuate over time. And if you have one child who naps and one who recently stopped napping, your younger child may even go to bed later than your older one.
When you put the kids to bed at the same time you can get a few more antics after lights out but you should have more adult time in the evening.
When you separate bedtimes you get more one-on-one time with each child but bedtime takes longer overall and, depending on how long, you can feel like you don’t get much of an evening for yourself or with your spouse.
Either way, the key is to have a bedtime routine that is tender, loving, and succinct. You want it to have just the right amount of steps so no one is short-changed but also not involve much random playtime.
opposing nap schedules
Getting out of the house can feel like a distant dream when you have one child taking 2 naps each day and another taking one nap a day. Often this means your baby naps around 10 am and 2:30 pm while your toddler sleeps 12:30 - 2:30… not leaving you much time to get out. (Been there!)
The good news is that your baby will only be on 2 naps a day for 6 months and their afternoon nap is the more flexible one and can be on-the-go a few days a week to give you some flexibility.
what to do with a toddler during baby’s nap times
Putting your baby down for naps doesn’t have to take more than 2-3 minutes (and you can learn how to do this with a newborn or a baby) but then you still have the job of keeping your toddler quiet while the baby sleeps.
A basket of “quiet time toys” can go a long way toward helping you get your baby down for a good nap. Collect a few toys that keep your older child busy and entertained and put them out of sight in a closet and when it’s time for their sibling’s nap, ask them which “quiet time toys” they want to play with.
You may even have a particular room you want your child to stay in while their sibling naps. You can also set a timer to motivate them to cooperate for a reasonable amount of time. Plan to have them play independently half the time and plan to play with them the remaining time This way you get a break and your child gets some one-on-one time with you.
Win-win, right?
let’s make it happen
Whether you’ve got 1, 2, 3, or more kiddos, sleep can be easy and enjoyable for all. That might not be what you’ve heard, but it’s true! It just takes a solid plan, the right tools, and some guidance.
When you’re ready here are 3 ways I can help you:
1) FREE Love to Sleep Session
Tired of being exhausted because you're baby isn't sleeping? Feel like you've tried everything and sleep still sucks? You could be missing a few key ingredients. Book a free call so we can discuss the best steps for you to take. Click here to schedule your call now.
2) Watch my latest training
If you want to see how I help my clients give their babies 12-hour nights and predictable, long naps then watch this.
3) Join the Facebook Group
Achieving great results on your own is near impossible. But with the right group of people, anything is possible. Join hundreds of other mothers in our FREE Facebook group who are happy to support and encourage you along the way. Click here.
Sleep well,
Sierra