How To Enjoy Your 4th of July Without Sacrificing Sleep
We always have a fun day, full day of celebrating with family and friends over the 4th of July!
It usually starts out with a big neighborhood parade, led by our local firefighters who show up with lights flashing and sirens blaring in their shiny red firetruck. The kids decorate their bikes and scooters and skateboards and follow the firetruck around the neighborhood until it stops at the park and the firemen hook up the fire hose so the kids can run through the BIGGEST sprinkler you’ve ever seen. We eat star spangled popsicles, explore the firetruck and everyone has a really great time!
There’s an afternoon barbecue that follows and in the evening the kids get to light off their fireworks and stink bombs in the street and then normally… we go home. Because here in Idaho, it doesn’t even get dark until 10:30 p.m., and to be honest, I’ve been perfectly content to skip the big crowds and parking nightmares in favor of a kid who isn’t going to be unbearably crabby the next day.
But this year … Carver turned 8 … and he really wants to see the big fireworks show. So, we’re crossing our fingers and hoping that there’s a show to watch from a distance, and we’re putting on our party pants and staying up LATE.
If you’re wondering how to help your little ones power through a late night celebration this week, I’ve got a few tips for you to try…
NEWBORNS are the easiest age group to be out and about with because they can sleep through practically anything. Remember that babies can overheat very quickly. So, finding a shady spot - or bringing them inside for naps will help your little one stay more comfortable and content during the day. Since newborns can only tolerate about and hour of wake time before they need to go down for their next nap, this gives you a perfect excuse to put your partner in charge of the older kids and give yourself a little break, too.
If you’re planning to let the big kids light off their fireworks in the evening, keep in mind that those loud noises and sparkly lights can be a complete sensory overload for little guys and you might consider bringing some noise canceling ear muffs along, like these from Friday Baby. Whether you plan to be home or away when it’s time for bed, keep the same routine in place since this is the best way to signal to your baby’s brain and body that it’s time for nighttime sleep.
OLDER BABIES have a slightly higher tolerance for being awake and they can handle more stimulating activities than a newborn can, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on their wake windows and get in good naps if you can. If you’re planning to stay out later, you might even throw in an extra cat nap to help them power through the evening and make it to a later bedtime.
Not sure what your child’s ideal wake window is? Here’s a guideline to help you map out your day…
Newborns - 3 months: 45-60 minutes
4 - 6 months: 1.5 - 2.5 hours
6 - 9 months: 2 - 3 hours
9 - 12 months: 3 hours
12 - 18 months: 3 - 4 hours
Bringing your pack-n-play and a Slumberpod along is a great way to create a dark sleep space anywhere! The great thing about a slumberpod is that it’s super compact and easy to pack and there’s a built in space for your monitor, so you can lay your super star sleeper down and head back out to the party while still keeping a close eye on your baby. (Don’t forget to use code MYSLEEPFAIRY10 for $10 off your Slumberpod!)
If you don’t want to mess with your child’s schedule - because hey, you’ve got a good thing going! It’s totally okay. Set baby up for a smooth transition by bringing along anything that is familiar and you would normally incorporate into your bedtime routine and do a shorter version wherever you are. If you don’t have a Slumberpod yet, that’s okay. You can always set the pack n play up in your friend’s walk in closet.
Wait - what?! Why would you put your baby in a closet?! Because, it makes for a great dark sleep space that feels just like their bedroom at home - and kids like it when things feel familiar. You’ll feel more relaxed, too, because you’re not dealing with a cranky baby and counting down the minutes until it’s time to go home!
When it’s time to go, and if you’re blessed enough to have a little one who stays asleep on the ride home and into the house, yay for you! If your little one wakes up during the transfer process, don’t stress - it’s not the end of the world. Once you’re home, try to avoid turning on bright lights and take baby into their bedroom to repeat the last few steps of their bedtime routine. Change a diaper if you need to, read a quick book and say goodnight to objects in the room. Before you lay baby down in the crib, repeat your nighttime phrase a few times (“It’s time for bed - I love you - see you in the morning!”). The bedtime routine acts as a cuing system that helps babies to understand when it’s still time to sleep, so repeating the process will help your baby know exactly what to do.
TODDLERS: A word of advice… NAPS. Even if your toddler has given them up, do your best to eek one out, even if it’s just 30 minutes in the car on the way to grandma’s house. This will help them to recharge their busy little batteries and that decreases the chance of a meltdown and a rough time getting to bed later on. No matter what age your kids are there’s one thing that is true across the board: it’s ALWAYS easier to get them to settle into sleep if they’re not overtired. Making sure they’re not going to bed completely exhausted when you get home will also decrease the likelihood of middle of the night or early morning wake-ups.
I hope these tips help you to enjoy your weekend festivities! Feel free to drop your questions in the comments or send me an email at: krista@mysleepfairy.net