Is winter over yet? The snow has begun to melt and the days are starting to get warmer. It is finally lighter a bit later in the evenings and the morning sun is coming through our windows earlier and earlier. Soon the birds will begin chirping again, the parks will dry up and the daffodils will begin to blossom, showing the first signs of spring. March 20th is the first day of spring. Let the countdown begin!
We all love it when our babies sleep 12, 11 or 10 hours straight. And we wish it would be like that all the time, but sometimes our 12-hour sleeper begins to wake up at 5:45, then 5:20 and so on. Early morning wakes are extremely difficult for parents. Who wants to get up at 5am? No one!
As a sleep consultant, an important part of my job is to teach families about the ways in which a child’s lack of sleep can impact the health and well-being of the family as a whole. Children who are well rested have been shown to demonstrate fewer behavioural problems, better appetites, stronger immune systems, improved cognitive functioning and have less mood swings.
This can often be a stressful time of the year, with work parties, family gathering obligations, and endless amounts of food to make and eat! Schedules and routines often get thrown out the window. That's ok. I’m here to tell you how to enjoy the holidays while ensuring that your sleep schedule doesn’t get off track.
The sun is bright, the days are long and the sounds of children playing outside are filling our streets and parks.