Challenges of Parenting Closely Spaced Siblings Parents of closely spaced children face many unique challenges. This is especially the case for parents that have two children under two or three children under three. Most times children this young have varying sleep schedules. That means you may have one or more children that isn't yet napping regularly or sleeping through the night. Children that aren't sleeping through the night can incite even greater sleep deprivation in their parents, who need all the energy they can possibly get during the day just to keep up with their closely spaced children. Getting enough sleep is vital for managing your temperament and helping you face the challenges that parenting closely spaced children brings. Key Strategies For Getting Two Or More To Sleep Routinely So how do you get your youngest to sleep through the night? Better yet, how do you find time to sleep during the day? Believe it or not there are several simple and effective strategies you can use to get your babies on the same sleep schedule. Even if you can't get them sleeping at the same time, you can find time to 'rest' during the day and ensure that each of your children sleeps at least one 5 hour block or more at night. Here are some key strategies for ensuring a restful day and good night's sleep: Develop a nighttime routine that involves all your children. This may include having a bath, reading and spending some one on one time with each child.Stick to the same bedtime every night, or within the same 1/2 hour every night. Children need consistency.Never put children younger than 3 later to bed than 7:30. They simply won't sleep as soundly if they stay up later, no matter how much they napped during the day.Have older children participate in 'quiet' time during the day. Even if they don't feel like napping, have them rest quietly in their room for 15 or more minutes during the day when your youngest are sleeping. This will ensure you have a few moments to yourself when you can rest. Most parents find their children fall asleep anyway!Turn off the television and other forms of media at least 1/2 hour or more before bedtime. Dim the lights. This will help your children settle in for the eveningEven More Strategies For The Sleep Deprived Of course there is really no end to the strategies you can adopt to help your children sleep better through the night and help you rest during the day. It is important that you engage your children in activities that will allow them to self-entertain for small intervals during the day. While this is challenging when your children are less than 6 months old, typically you can find one or more activities that your children will engage in for 10 minutes or more by themselves as they grow. You can use this time to put your feet up, unload the dishwasher, go to the bathroom or even just sit and relax for a few minutes. Top choices include: (1) Playing with play dough, (2) Watching a favorite video, (3) Having your oldest read a story to your youngest or (4) Having your older child help feed your youngest or feed their own doll baby. You'd be surprised how clever most children are. Most children when given the opportunity will learn to happily engage themselves for short spurts throughout the day, allowing you some time for a tiny bit of rest and relaxation. One of the biggest advantages of closely spaced children of course is their closeness. As your children grow you will find they are the ideal playmates for one another, making managing multiple youngsters much easier! Ulimately the rewards of raising closely spaced children are far greater than the challenges we face as parents when our children are young. Remember that there will come a time when parents wished their biggest obstacles included a little sleep deprivation. If you are feeling unduly stressed about getting enough sleep while managing three under three, last but not least take some time to pamper yourself. Nap when your children nap if you can, and ask for a helping hand on occasion. Whether you have a partner watch the kids for an hour or a friend, family member, mother's helper or neighbor, we all need an occasional break from the challenges of raising closely spaced siblings. Ultimately a little rest and perspective will help ensure that you are the best parent you can be, to your children, your partner and yourself! |
