Are You Ready to Begin?

Everyone wants to get to the part where the whole family is sleeping better and well-rested.  I don’t blame you – it’s a magical place to be!  The good news is that you can get there.  However, there are better times to begin a sleep plan than others.  Here are some factors to consider when deciding if now is the time to begin the crossover to that magical sleeping place:

1. You don’t have anything big planned – trips, holidays, relatives coming to stay over, or a new baby sibling coming home. You want to set aside approximately 2 weeks to really focus on the sleep plan and making these new changes.  Being consistent in the first couple weeks will set the foundation for your new well-rested family. (Don’t worry. Once everyone is settled into the new sleep routine, there can be times when you get off schedule.  This has to fit into your life after all.)
2. Your child is healthy and feeling good.  Although, at times, it does seem like something is always coming up with kids: runny noses, teething, and all that fun stuff. You want to pick a time when you’re child is feeling pretty good.  They’re going to be learning something new so we want to set them up for success.
3. You have spoken to your pediatrician. Most pediatricians are very supportive of families starting a sleep plan when a baby is healthy and 4 months or older.  However, if you have any specific health concerns or if you’re thinking about dropping night feeds, it’s always important to check with the doctor and get the OK before starting a new plan.  Always discuss any medical concerns with the sleep consultant, too!
4.  You are feeling motivated.  The caregivers are the key to success when implementing a new sleep plan.  You have to feel comfortable and confident with the plan you and the sleep consultant have come up with. If there are questions or concerns about the plan, definitely discuss with the sleep consultant before you begin.  Consistency is going to be so important in the implementation, so you have to feel ready and committed to following through.