Fall is right around the corner, parents! And I, for one, cannot wait to exchange the heat and humidity of summer for the crisp chill and beautiful leaves of fall. Warm sweaters, pumpkin-flavored foods, hot apple cider…fall is my favorite!
If you have a baby at home, though, the weather won’t be the only thing that changes this fall. You may notice some changes in your baby’s sleep, too. But not to worry – we have got you covered! We’ll tell you what changes to expect, and how to deal with them.
3 Ways Your Baby’s Sleep May Change This Fall
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Shorter Days May Affect Bedtime.
As days get shorter and nights get longer this fall, you may notice that your baby’s bedtime becomes a little earlier. This is normal; our circadian rhythms (the signals that tell our brain when it is time to be awake, and when it is time to sleep) are closely connected to light. So when the sun sets earlier, it’s natural for your baby to want to go to bed earlier.
This will not necessarily be a problem. However, if you find that the earlier bedtimes are causing your baby to wake earlier, you may need to take action and shift your baby’s schedule a bit. -
Nighttime Sleep May Get Longer.
The long, bright days of summer are fun, but they can cause babies and toddlers to sleep less at night. Bedtimes tend to be later in the summer, and since the sun comes up early, our kids tend to get up early, too! But starting in the fall, you may find that your baby is sleeping more at night.
This can be a great thing, particularly if your baby missed out on long nighttime sleep over the summer. However, if your baby is sleeping more at night, you may find that his naps are affected. That can happen because a baby’s overall sleep amounts tend to remain the same from day to day, so if more of that sleep is happening at night, then less will happen during the day. If that’s a problem, then you may need to work on naps by shortening your baby’s nighttime sleep, leaving more sleep available for nap time. -
Cooler Temperatures Can Mean Deeper Sleep.
Here’s a fun fact for you: all of us (little ones and adults alike) tend to sleep more deeply when the temperature is cool. The optimum temperature for sleep will vary from person to person, of course, but a good temperature to aim for is right around 68 degree Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). It can be hard to keep room temperatures that cool in the summer, but as fall temps cool off, you may find that your baby begins to sleep more deeply and soundly.
This is great, of course – something else to love about fall! Just be sure not to compensate for these cool temps by dressing baby too warmly for bed. Do that, and you risk making your baby too warm at night; that, in turn, can make her sleep more restless and fragmented. For ideas about how to properly dress your baby for bed, check out this article.
How are you preparing for changes to your baby’s sleep? Share your tips with us!
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
Or, join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
If you are looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation, and want plenty support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations. Your consultation package will provide you with the chance to interact one-on-one with a trained sleep consultant, who will create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ for your family and then work to help you implement it at home.
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For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
Learn More About The 3-Step System
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
Learn More About Mastering Naps
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
Learn More About The 5-Step System
Join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, and more. As a VIP member, you'll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
Learn More About VIP Membership
Debora says
I am not too excited about the upcoming fall. I LOVE the weather, the change of colors, and the temperature is perfect! But when it comes to my baby sleep… different story… He is an early riser, which means, with the time change in October we will all suffer for I don’t know how many weeks until he shifts his schedule. Whatever time the sun rises, guess what? He is up at 6am. Bummer…
Emily DeJeu says
@ Kendra – I hear you! That’s one thing to love about fall (and about the long winter months, too) – earlier bedtimes and later morning wake-ups!
Thanks for commenting, Kendra 🙂
Kendra says
Looking forward to bedtime being earlier again for my 2 year old. I was a little worried that he had trouble going to bed before 8 these past several weeks, but that’s about when it gets dark around here, so maybe that’s why.