Is your sleep just good enough but not great?
Many parents find themselves thinking that sleep is okay as long as they can get by. It's common to wait for something to change, for things to improve, or for the situation to become bad enough to force a change out of desperation. Why rock the boat?
Here are two compelling reasons why steering your boat toward great sleep for your whole family now is crucial:
Recovery is Tough: Once sleep is lost, it's challenging to make up for it. The damage that sleep deprivation does to our bodies and brains is not easy to recover from. Beyond the physical toll, there are the moments lost in frustration, a foggy state, and not feeling your best. These are things that can be avoided with proactive measures. Research indicates that it can take up to four days to recover from just one hour of lost sleep, and up to nine days to completely eliminate sleep debt.
Habits Get Harder to Change: Resolving sleep issues becomes more challenging as your baby grows and habits become ingrained. While it's never impossible, and I've successfully helped parents achieve great sleep for toddlers, pre-schoolers, and children up to age 9, the approaches change as your little one gets older. Different developmental milestones and stages come into play, and changing habits that have been in place for a longer time, especially when your child is vocal, can be a bit more challenging for parents. Take advantage of your child's age and temperament, and address sleep concerns as soon as they become unsustainable for your family. Remember, it's never too late.
In the end, it's crucial to start the journey toward better sleep when you're ready to put in the effort for a lifetime of good sleep. Timing is everything, so reach out, understand what to expect, figure out the duration of the process, and get a plan in place. This way, you won't find yourself struggling with years of "good enough" sleep when you could be enjoying great sleep instead.
