Sleep tips for a child with low sleep needs
When it comes to supporting a baby with low sleep needs, parents often feel confused and frustrated when they have tried all of the tips they have read and heard about, and nothing seems to work for their baby! As a result, parents often convince themselves that their child is just a terrible sleeper, and accept their fate as a chronically tired parent with a baby who won’t sleep. But it doesn’t have to be this way! While lower sleep needs babies are challenging, understanding their unique temperament and ways to support them is a game changer!
What qualifies as a lower sleep needs baby?
Lower sleep needs babies often display a set of sleep patterns that don’t reflect the “average” baby when it comes to their nap lengths, night sleep, and 24 hours sleep totals. Babies with lower sleep needs may take shorter naps, be up more throughout the night, and oddly enough may seem unphased by it- almost as if they don’t really need the sleep. While we know this isn’t true, this is often due to a combination of their temperament, sensory input and output needs, their environment, a need for higher activity levels, and unique developmental needs and support.
It is important to understand that even though it might not seem like it, babies on the lower end of sleep needs, still should fall within the recommended sleep totals in a 24-hour period according to the National Sleep Foundation.
For infants, 0-12 months, this range falls between 12-17 hours in a 24 hour period, with newborns being on the higher end, and older infants on the lower end of this spectrum. If your baby is lower sleep needs, they may fall on the lower end of the age recommendations when it comes to sleep totals. However, a child who is far below the recommendation may have some underlying issues that need to be addressed or are being overlooked, such as a sleep disorder or medical condition preventing them from getting the sleep they need. It is always important to rule these out first!
If your child is on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to sleep needs, you may find they sleep a maximum of 9 or 10 hours per night no matter what you do. Or, you may find they chronically take short naps, going into night sleep with only two hours of day sleep under their belt. You may also find that your baby wakes up more throughout the night, has a strong need to be close to you as their parent or caregiver, and struggles to fall back to sleep once they have awoken.
How to Support a Child with Lower Sleep Needs
if this sounds like your child, don’t worry! They aren’t doomed to be a terrible sleeper forever, and there are ways you can support them.
Step 1, starts with understanding your child’s unique temperament and sleep profile. Knowing if your child is highly sensitive, more attached, or more adaptable is going to help you understand why they respond the way they do, and how their temperament shapes the way they respond to different sleep approaches. For example, a sensitive sleeper generally needs more structure, routine, and a consistent independent sleep space vs. an attached sleeper who likely sleeps better when close to you (or quite literally on you) and they can handle more on-the-go and sporadic sleep. Knowing which category your child best aligns with is a game changer!
Once you have determined this, step two is to really focus on your child’s sensory input and output and activity levels. For example, you might find that after a 45 minute swim with mom, your child takes a long chunky nap. OR, you might find that a bit of rough and tumble play on the bed, one hour prior to your baby’s bedtime, is the key to getting them to sleep longer stretches.
Additional activities that often help a baby get the sensory input they need include: a deep pressure massage, a nightly bath, toys that are not overstimulating with lights and loud noises, time outside in nature, time in a carrier close to a parent/caregiver, and books that have specific textures and feels. Of course there are many other activities that can help fill your child’s sensory bucket, but finding the right activities is key for your child, and that includes a lot of trial and error.
Step three, is all about your child’s schedule and tuning into their unique needs. If you currently spend hours trying to get your baby to sleep at night, it’s possible they need more awake time before bed. Lower sleep needs babies often need longer awake periods filled with the right kind of stimulation. For lower sleep needs babies, they may not get overtired as easily, and need a bit more sleep pressure built up compared to other babies.
You just want to be careful here because there is a fine line of pushing your baby too far to the point that they become exhausted, which isn’t going to help anyone!
Finally, supporting your child with lower sleep needs, also means adjusting your expectations. Instead of a two hour morning nap like your friend’s baby takes, your child might only take a 45 minute or one hour nap and seem totally rested. Because of this, that means your baby needs more naps throughout the day to make it to the desired day sleep totals. This might also mean you offer more contact naps if that seems to help your baby get into and stay in a deeper stage of sleep.
Important Points to Remember
While lower sleep needs babies are a bit of a puzzle to figure out, remember that they still need to be within the range of the recommended sleep totals for their age, they just likely will fall on the lower end of that range. Because of this, you need to plan their schedule accordingly and make sure that you are really tuned in to what is going to work for them!
Remember it is going to take take to figure out what works for your lower sleep needs baby, but eventually you will figure it out! You know your baby best, and by following your child’s cues and patterns, you will be able to tune into what it is that helps them most as opposed to what other people are telling you to do. All babies are different and comparing your baby to another child is only going to cause you to become discouraged.
Safe Sleep is Still Important
Parents with babies who have lower sleep needs often become so exhausted and discouraged that they practice unsafe sleep such as sleeping in a recliner with their baby, or falling asleep with their baby in their bed when they are not set up for safe co-sleeping. While our recommendation is still to have your baby in a separate sleep space near you until at least six or seven months (ideally longer), if you are going to bed-share, make sure you are following the safety recommendations and that you are not falling asleep with your baby accidently.
Reach out for support
If you feel like you have tried everything and you just cannot figure out how to support your child, reach out for support! Our team of pediatric sleep specialists would love to work with you and take a balanced and unique approach with your child to figure out how to support them (and you!) in a way that is specific to their needs. You don’t have to go at this alone and there is no shame in admitting you need help!
Consider booking with our team of experts here.
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