Can you believe we’re already in mid-October? Halloween is just two weeks away. The holiday isn’t as damaging to your child’s schedule as Christmas might be (especially if you visit multiple family homes, do a lot of driving, or host lots of guests), but it has the potential to throw a wrench in the mix. Here are some Halloween sleep tips so you can be prepared.
1. Mind your schedule.
Your older children (if you have any) can tolerate a deviation from their usual sleep schedule for a night of festivity, but your younger kids shouldn’t. If your baby goes to sleep when most people begin trick-or-treating, try to go earlier in the day, even if it’s light out.
If the houses in your neighborhood aren’t accepting guests as early as you would prefer to go out, stop by a mall, shopping center, or other public place that is handing out candy to costumed kids. Some towns even have a de facto Halloween area (usually Main Street or other main residential area) where everyone celebrates all day.
2. Make sure the daytime nap happens.
If you plan to journey out for trick-or-treating in the evenings, be sure that your child takes the usual midday nap. Kids get excited during Halloween; they’re out in the evenings, being active, wearing silly clothes, and hanging out with their loved ones, so energy levels will be high. If your baby or toddler doesn’t get their midday rest, they will be overtired and it’s likely that a meltdown will follow.
3. Choose your activities wisely.
Many events and attractions this time of year take place at dusk. Some might be longer than you expect. Don’t get caught on a hayride well past your little one’s bed time by calling ahead and asking for estimated times.
You’ll also want to be sure your child can handle any scary activities. Judge your child’s tolerance before touring any haunted houses, corn mazes, or Halloween shows. A good frightening may be fun for the older folks, but it could keep little one’s awake at night with nightmares, which might disrupt the sleep routine for a week.
4. Limit chocolate intake.
It’s great that you want to introduce your little guy or gal to the Halloween season, but go easy with the chocolate and sugary snacks near bedtime. Offer a few pieces at least a couple hours before it’s time to sleep, then hold off until the next day.
5. Use some white noise for little ones.
If you are accepting trick-or-treaters at your home, you’ll want to mask the regular commotion at your entryway so your baby can sleep. Use a white noise machine or a fan in your baby’s room, especially if you accept guests late into the night. If your little one is sleeping, you may want to greet those little goblins at the door before they ring your doorbell.
6. Don’t stress!
Remember that Halloween is only one night. It is not as potentially disruptive to a sleep schedule as, say, a week-long vacation may be. Understand that your baby’s schedule may change a little bit, but you won’t be erasing all the sleep training work you did. You might have to make some adjustments over the next few days.
Written by Lori Strong, Certified Sleep Consultant and Owner of Strong Little Sleepers
Lori is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant through and Certified Happiest Baby Educator. She is the founder and owner of Strong Little Sleepers, which was started on the idea that all families need and deserve to get a good night’s sleep. Lori was the first certified child sleep consultant in Austin, Texas and was honored as Best Sleep Expert in the 2013 Austin Birth Awards. She is also a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Lori combines her experience as an educator and a parent to offer customized sleep plans and support to families with children ages 0-6 across the country.
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