Tips for resetting baby's body clock

[blushingmare]

Hi

We are just back from holiday in New Zealand. DD (9mo) coped brilliantly on the way out, but on the way back didn't sleep well on the flight and we've just had a terrible first night home, with her waking every hour all night. We don't follow a set routine at home, but she's normally awake by 7, and has a morning nap and a longer afternoon nap. I'd never normally wake her from naps, but I think she'll sleep a lot today if I don't, so should I to try and get her back in this time zone do you think? Or will she just do it herself if I leave her to it? She's still asleep now, so the day is already not the norm!

[Rhienne]

I think what you need lots of is patience. Not very helpful maybe, but that's what it took us.

If you can keep her day naps a little shorter without stressing her too much, that's good. And the more time she can spend out in the sunshine during the day, the better.

And I would say that if she wakes in the night, don't be too hard on trying to get her back to sleep, at least for the first couple of nights. If she wants to be up playing (quietly), let her up for an hour or so, then see if you can resettle her. Otherwise you can get into battles and she might start to associate the cot as a place she really doesn't want to be...

(This from the not so very experienced position of having got one six month old through this, once. So no expert at all!)

[blushingmare]

Thanks Rhienne that's a good point about the battles - that's the very last thing I want as the past month or so we've been making real progress on her sleep! Although actually she didn't seem to want to be awake last night, just couldn't stay asleep. I think she got very overstimulated on the plane and now we're paying the price! How long do you think it took your little one to return to something near normal?

I'm loving your optimism with getting her out in the "sunshine" btw!!

[Rhienne]

It took us 5 or 6 days. Was forever at the time, but not so bad, now looking back.

Yes well, ever hopeful! Turn on all your lights inside maybe!