Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook Read Online Free PDF Page A

afternoon (looking at books in his room, for example), and move his bedtime up by about an hour—i.e., if he had been getting to bed at 8:30 p.m., now he should be in bed by 7:30 p.m.
     
    By age 5, he can probably stay up a little later—until 8:00 p.m.—and he should sleep until around 7:00 a.m. In other words, he should get 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night ; adjust your child’s exact bed- and wake-up times to coincide with your family schedule and his school-start time.
     
    Also, be aware that preschoolers are very good at hiding when they’re sleepy, which can make it tough to get their bedtime just right. Continue to watch for sleep cues like yawning, eye-rubbing, thumb-sucking, or crankiness . If your tot gets that cortisol-fueled second wind (meaning you missed his sleep window), start getting him to bed a half-hour or so earlier from now on. Similarly, if he starts nodding off during his bedtime routine or falls asleep the very second you turn out the lights, you’re probably putting him to bed too late. Move bedtime earlier by 15 to 30 minutes.
     
     
     
6:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m.
Wake-up and breakfast.
Midmorning snack
12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lunch.
1:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Nap (if still napping), or quiet time.
Snack
5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Dinner.
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Start bath.
7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Bedtime (exact time depending on age and if your child is still taking a nap).
     
     
     
Changes and Challenges: Switching to the Big Bed
     
    Most children move out of the crib between ages 3 and 4. A child is ready to make the switch when:
    • he’s at least 2 ½ years old.
    • he’s mastered the skill of putting himself to sleep at bedtime and getting himself back to sleep when he wakes during the night without any help.
    • he’s climbing out of his crib easily and frequently (see my tips on dealing with a climber on page 25 if you want your tot to stay in his crib longer).
    • he says he wants a “big boy” bed.
     
    There are different ways to make the transition:
     
     
    The Cold Turkey Approach —in other words, simply removing the crib and replacing it with a bed . If you do this:
    • put the new bed where your child’s crib was (if the layout of the room allows for it) or
    • place it in a corner of the room so he still feels safely contained.
    • install a guard rail on the side of the bed that’s not against a wall.
    • arrange a few pillows on the floor in case he tumbles out anyway.
     
    A Note about Toddler Beds: Some families use toddler beds (they’re sized to fit a crib mattress) as an interim step, but I don’t see a need for it. If your child really wants one, fine, but it’s certainly not an essential investment. The one advantage is that they’re usually too small for a parent to fit in, so you won’t have to deal with being begged to lie down with your child.
     
     

The Gradual Approach:
     
    • Start by leaving the crib railing down, with a stool at the side so he can get out by himself.
    • Arrange some extra pillows on the floor for safety.
    • If you can fit the new bed and the crib in the same room, you can start with reading books on the bed or have him nap in the bed. Then pick the big night where he sleeps in the bed at night. Once he’s sleeping in his bed for naps and nights, you can remove the crib.
    Some other things to keep in mind, no matter how you decide to make the transition:
    • Consider putting a gate on the bedroom door, at least at the beginning, as both a training device and a safety measure. The gate delineates boundaries, helping a child understand that he has to stay in his bed. It will also prevent him from wandering around and possibly getting hurt in a dark house in the middle of the night.
    • Make sure the room is safety proof now that he can get out of bed unsupervised.
    • Let him pick out new sheets or a quilt (or at least give him a choice between two or three sets that meet your aesthetic requirements!).
    • Explain the