Summer is quickly approaching and our kids will soon be getting fresh air, sunshine, and the freedom to work their wiggles out. Yay! Sleep is usually not a huge issue during the summer months if we can keep their "sleep tanks" full. By this, I mean we need to be watchful and aware of how balanced their sleep level is at any given time.

The picture of a sleep tank makes this concept come to life so that we're always looking at sleep as being full or empty, and then compensating for the latter. The problem comes when we don't recognize a depleted sleep tank, and things begin to spiral out of control...overtiredness, low immune function, attention issues, temper tantrums, night wakings, short naps, super early mornings...the goal is to restore the sleep debt before symptoms are present!

Here are some examples:

• If we get the kids up super early to check out the sunrise on a beach trip, we need to make sure their nap/bedtime starts earlier than it usually does so that they can catch up and get refilled with high quality sleep.

• If we spend the day out on the boat and the baby takes four 20 minute catnaps instead of her usual 1.5 hour morning/afternoon naps, then we need to start her bedtime routine super early that night and get her into bed as soon as possible to help her make up for those junky naps. Keeping her on her normal schedule will not allow her body to restore itself, and if the following day is also busy she'll struggle to catch up adequately.

• Another example (this is my personal struggle!) is pushing the toddler's nap late into the afternoon so that we can fit in fun activities. This isn't a problem if it happens just one day here or there, but my tendency - especially while we're on vacation -  is to put them down too late a few days in a row, which wreaks havoc and creates a cycle of overtiredness as each day passes. This is because a nap that starts after 2pm doesn't provide the deep, restorative sleep their body needs. It actually leaves them feeling more groggy and grumpy than they were before the nap. It also moves the bedtime too late, which keeps the sleep tank on the low side perpetually! Junky sleep becomes the fuel the have to live on until we fill them up with the kind of sleep they need. It's important to shift things earlier as soon as possible!

• Summer evenings inevitably make it feel unnatural to put our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It stays light longer, the neighborhood is still hoppin', we feel relaxed and don't want to adhere to a schedule, etc. BUT our kids will be functioning on a depleted sleep tank if we skip over the most restorative hours of sleep, 6-8pm. Missing those hours is like eating candy bars for dinner. If you do it too often, negative affects will inevitably come your way. Once in a while won't hurt, especially if you're making up for it with a solid, healthy breakfast. Sleep works the same way!! Don't be tempted to push them too late too often! Save it for when it truly matters and get them in at an early hour as often as possible.

This "sleep tank" mentality is SO important. It might go against what you've always thought to be true about sleep, because when we think about sleep schedules and routine we assume it means to put our kids down at the same time every night. This is a common mistake and our kids suffer for it. We have to take life into account, and be willing to flex according to what they need on any given day. If they're lacking sleep, it's necessary to change their typical schedule to help them catch up. It's doing them a disservice to adhere to a strict schedule without taking the ebb and flow of sleep abundance/sleep debt into account!

I hope this is helpful for you and your family!

Love,

Laura

Are you in need of a child sleep consultant? Reach out today and book a free call!

Ready to Sleep train?