Tips To Help Your Baby Sleep When They Are Sick

Most babies, toddlers and preschoolers get as many as 12 colds per year. This is mainly due to the fact that babies and children put things in their mouths, and their bodies haven’t been exposed to the hundreds of viruses that are out there. The more exposure they have to others and to new surroundings, such as at daycares, public events, or interacting with siblings, the more likely they are to get sick. Over time, this exposure does help build your child’s immune system and it will help them to be less sick when they are older. 

My kids seem to always be sick; once one cold ends a new virus appears. It seems to be a never ending cycle. Through their interactions with their 23 cousins, attending daycare and their extra-curricular activities it seems like it's impossible for them not to get sick.

In the end, sickness is inevitable. Babies and kids get sick quite often. But that doesn’t mean your child will never sleep. In most cases with a common cold your child will sleep pretty normally. Some viruses can hit them harder and then they need more support and comfort. Making sure your child gets enough sleep during these times is very important. During sleep, your child’s body is healing and fighting off the viruses. 

Your child may need to sleep more during periods of illness. They may be more tired than usual and might need to nap more often than they normally do. This is normal and should not affect their night time sleep. Follow your child’s cues, while still trying your best to keep to their sleep schedule in order for them to get the sleep they need.  Respond to your child as needed. You may need to give them more support during this time. 

Below are some tips to help your child sleep during these challenging times

1. Put them down early for nap(s) or bedtime

Watch their wake windows and tired cues and put them down accordingly. Knowing your child’s sleepy cues is very helpful in ensuring they are not overtired going down for a nap or bedtime. You can still follow wake windows but if your baby or child can’t handle the full wake window when they are sick that's totally normal! Use the graphic below to see the average wake windows by age. If your child had short naps or didn’t nap as long as they normally do, and is showing tired cues, then put your child to bed earlier. This helps to prevent them from being overtired and potentially causing them to wake up more often during the night. Typically, you should aim to put them down no more than 1 hour earlier than their normal bedtime to ensure that they get a maximum of 13 hours of sleep. 

2. Follow their normal routine

Keep their nap and bedtime routine the same to help keep things familiar and to cue their brain that it is time to sleep. This is especially important if you are putting them down early.

3. Extend nap(s) and provide additional comfort and support

Try and put them down awake for their nap and bedtime. If they are struggling, you may need to provide them with a bit more support and comfort to help them fall asleep, especially if they are overtired. If they wake up early from a nap, try to extend that nap by picking them up and rocking them back to sleep or hold them.  If your child isn’t able to sleep on their own because they are struggling or are too sick, then try a contact nap or carrier nap. Ensuring they get their sleep is more important at this time. These actions will not ruin their sleep routine (or sleep training) especially if it is just for a short amount of time while they are sick. 

You may also need to offer more support during the night if they are waking up and having a hard time falling back asleep. This becomes particularly apparent when they are coughing a lot or have a fever. You may need to offer more bum/belly rubs or pats, or even rock them to sleep. 

4. Let them nap longer if they are sleeping

Babies and toddlers (even adults) are more tired when they are sick. If your child sleeps longer than usual during a nap, let them. This is okay as it will provide their bodies with more time to heal and repair. In addition, having a longer nap typically doesn’t affect the night time sleep.

5. Feeding will help fight the illness

While your child may not be able to eat as well while they are sick, it is important that they remain hydrated and regularly consume nutrients in order to give their bodies the energy they need to fight off an infection. If your child does not want to eat much, offer smaller, more frequent feedings in the day. If your child is under 12 months of age, focus more on breastmilk or formula over solid food.

You may also have to feed them or provide them with fluids during the night, to keep them hydrated. This applies to even those children who are fully weaned. 

Things to use when they are sick: 

• Use a nasal aspirator (i.e.: Frida Baby snot sucker)

• Saline spray in nose (up to 3 times per day)

• Steam shower/ bath (10-15 minutes)

• Cold mist humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Viruses linger in dry air longer. This will also help with congestion and coughs. 

• Skin to skin contact 

• Baby vicks (when they are older than 4 months old)

• Talk to your doctor about medications to help with pain, fever or infections

Lastly, a great tip that we have used is to simply practice good hygiene routines at home. Wash your kids’ hands after each outing, especially after they have come home from daycare. Blow or wipe their nose and get them into a new change of clothes when they come into the house. Shoes and socks have a surprising amount of germs! Also, change and wash their bed sheets often. By doing these simple steps you can help promote a clean environment for your children and prevent the buildup of germs that cause colds and viruses.

It is important to note that none of this is medical advice! Please contact your doctor if you are concerned about your child or before giving any medications. 

How do I get my child’s sleep back on track after being sick?

Once they are feeling better, the best approach to getting your child back to their original sleep schedule is to simply resume your normal nap and bedtime routine with them. Be consistent! You may even need to use your sleep training techniques again to get them to fall asleep independently. With a little time, your child will start to sleep better!

If your child is struggling or has never put themselves to sleep on their own and you are not sure where to start, please reach out. With my personalised plans, I can help your little one sleep better, and give you the tools required to work through future setbacks.

Use the link below to book a discovery call to learn more! Contact Sleep Serenity