The 4th of July is tons of fun, but when you are a parent of a baby, every little firecracker might make you worry that your baby will be up all night. If you have a toddler, they may begin to exhibit fears of fireworks and the dark. Here are some tips to keep your kiddos sleeping well through July 4th and beyond.
Are you worried that fireworks will keep your child up on the 4th?
1. Meet the Noise with Noise
If you have a young baby that startles easily, turn up the white noise at night so that the local fireworks displays don’t wake your child multiple times. Most young babies tend to sleep through fireworks, but white noise will help increase those odds in your favor.
2. Nap during the day
If you are planning on attending an evening fireworks display or get together, try to keep your child well-rested during the day so that they will be able to stay up longer at night. Offer a later nap during the day to help ward off being overtired during the festivities. Attending an all day party and then staying up later to watch fireworks may be a recipe for a large meltdown, so plan according to what your child needs. If you are going to be out all day, try to provide a place for your child to sleep (maybe bring a pack n play along) and take a break from all of the action.
3. Prepare your little ones
Many toddlers and young children are sensitive to the noise of fireworks. You may need to reassure your little ones that the fireworks are not going to harm them by giving them extra cuddles and comfort. You are not going to establish bad habits by introducing extra visits for one day. If you have a child who has sensory needs, they may require that you do a longer wind-down routine to calm them down before going to sleep at night.
4. Prepare for regular wake up times
Expect that your child will wake up at their normal time even though they go to bed later. As parents of young children know, children who go to bed late rarely wake up later. If your child gets less sleep the night before, try to pay extra attention to offering naps at restorative times the next day.
5. Have fun!
Know what is best for your family and your child. If you have an easy going child who can deviate from their regular routine for a night, you may want to stay out a little later. If your child does not enjoy fireworks yet or if they seem to frighten more than delight, you may want to skip them until your child is a little older and can understand a little bit more.
Whatever you do, I hope you have a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend!
Written by Lori Strong, Certified Sleep Consultant and Owner of Strong Little Sleepers
Lori is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant through the Family Sleep Institute 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.
For more information, please visit www.stronglittlesleepers.com.
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