Sick Baby, Sleepless Nights: Tips for Tired Parents
Having a sick baby is incredibly heartbreaking, and it can wreak havoc on sleep—even for the best sleepers!
In this blog post, we’ll cover how to approach sleep when your little one is sick, how to discern their needs, some ideas to help them feel better, and how to reset sleep if necessary.
Mindset
If you’re like me, anytime sleep falls apart (even for just a night or two), it can cause a wave of panic. I encourage you to pause right there. Yes, sickness will affect your little one’s sleep; there’s no way around it. Think about how you feel when you’re under the weather—struggling to get comfortable, needing water, snacks, or a warm bath throughout the night. The same goes for our little ones. They may require more support to fall and stay asleep than usual, and that’s perfectly okay.
Remember, they won’t forget the good sleep skills they’ve developed! Sickness will pass, and if your baby has independent sleep skills, they will likely bounce back quicker than we often give them credit for.
Discerning Needs
Imagine you have a baby who typically sleeps well, follows a predictable schedule, and can self-soothe. If they wake up in the middle of the night, it’s a reliable indicator that something is amiss. Especially if you’ve noticed illness symptoms during the day, it’s a signal that they might not be feeling their best and could need comfort, water, or help clearing a stuffy nose.
If your little one struggles to fall asleep or wakes up more than usual, the first thing I recommend is to PAUSE for 2-5 minutes. This brief moment allows you to assess the situation and determine the best course of action.
Let’s consider two scenarios:
Scenario One: Your little one wakes up, moaning and fussing but still lying down and rolling around. In this case, give them a bit of time to see if they can settle back to sleep on their own. Monitor their body language—if it improves, they might just need a little more time to find comfort.
Scenario Two: Your little one wakes up fussing, then sits up, looking towards the door, and their crying escalates. In this instance, it’s best to go in and help them return to sleep.
Always trust your mama intuition. While you want to be mindful about not creating habits you don’t want long-term, temporarily providing extra comfort during sickness won’t erase their self-soothing skills.
Think of it like training for a marathon: if you typically run 10-15 miles but fall ill and take a week off, you won’t jump back to 15 miles right away, but you also won’t be starting from scratch.
Keep in mind that sometimes our best intentions to help might not yield immediate results. If your little one remains upset despite your efforts, giving them some space can sometimes be what they need to settle down. You know your baby best, and it’s okay to pivot if necessary. Your baby knows you’re there, and doing your best to meet their needs—whether that means providing comfort or giving them space—is key.
Schedule & Tips
When babies are sick, they often sleep more than usual (though not always). While I generally recommend capping naps longer than three hours or those that encroach on bedtime, sleep "rules" can be bent during illness. Yes, their schedule may be off for a few days or a week, but that’s okay. Let them sleep!
While I’m not a pediatrician and always recommend checking with yours about specific illnesses, here are a few tips that might help your baby sleep better while they’re sick:
Warm baths to clear airways for easier breathing.
Saline spray and a nasal aspirator to relieve stuffy noses.
Humidifiers to maintain moisture in the air.
Medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen (consult your pediatrician first).
Hydration through a sippy cup of water or extra milk.
Resetting Sleep
As your baby starts to feel better, gradually reduce the level of support you’re providing for sleep. For example, if you’ve been rocking your baby to sleep during nighttime awakenings, allow them 10-20 minutes to try to fall back asleep independently before offering minimal assistance—like a gentle back rub, singing a soft song, or simply laying down beside them.
When you’re confident they’re on the mend, gently nudging them to remember their sleep skills will help restore a healthy sleep routine.
If your schedule has gotten off track and you’re unsure where to start, re-establish a consistent wake-up time. For instance, if your baby usually wakes up around 6:30 AM, aim to wake them by 7 AM to help reset their internal clock.
Summary
In summary, illness will disrupt sleep, but it won’t last forever. Your baby won’t forget their sleep skills, and providing some extra support is entirely appropriate when needed.
If you find that sleep isn’t as good as you’d like when your baby is feeling well, you don’t have to wait for things to improve on their own. Challenges like teething, sickness, and regressions will come up, but your baseline can be consistent naps and sound nights of sleep.
Let’s work together to make that happen!
