How much should I let my baby sleep when they are sick?
It hits you when you least expect it.
Life is cruising along fairly well. I mean, sure, “fairly well” these days means exhausted, overwhelmed, and celebrating the little things, but welcome to parenthood.
Then the dreaded thing happens: Baby gets sick.
Cancel all the plans. We’re in true survival mode now.
It can be rough for both baby and parents when our little one is sick. Let’s talk about tips for navigating sleep during sickness:
Let baby sleep. Baby will sleep a lot. Sleep is when the brain develops the immune system (during the deep sleep phase of the sleep cycle). The immune system plays an important role in keeping our bodies healthy and thriving! It is regenerated during sleep. Oftentimes when baby starts sleeping more than normal, it can be the first sign that your baby is fighting off sickness.
Make sleep easier. Add in contact naps, and extend naps when possible. When baby gets a skin-to-skin nap, they feel comforted knowing you are with them, can co-regulate to your breathing and heartbeat, and you can keep a closer eye on their temperature.
Add in extra fluids at night. This is where a dream feed or extra night feed can be helpful. It also allows you to check baby’s temperature to make sure it isn’t climbing too high.
No need to stick to the schedule. The regular schedule will get thrown off. Babies who are ill often need shorter wake windows and longer naps. When this happens, don’t panic. Allow baby to sleep as they need and recover. Cancel those appointments and activities and get back to it once baby is feeling better.
If baby struggles to get good sleep or seems to be in pain, consult with your doctor. They can let you know whether meds will be helpful for managing pain or fighting sickness to help baby get more sleep. Not sure if you need to take baby to the emergency room? Watch my YouTube video with Dr. Orajiaka where we discuss when a visit to the emergency room is recommended or isn’t necessary, how to prevent childhood and baby injury, and more.
Once baby is in recovery, you can:
Slowly move back to their full awake time as they can handle it
Remove any extra feeds/dream feeds that may have been added in
Focus on the bedtime routine to ensure baby is going into the crib awake and feeling confident in sleep. What is a good bedtime routine? Watch my video to find out!
Sleep sweetly,
Anna