Bedtimes

Repost: BEDTIMES

September 6, 2010 by weissbluthmethod Q: My job does not allow me to come early in the evening. I think that my child is already tired when I get home. What’s wrong with keeping her up a while to enjoy time with me? Isn’t this important for bonding?
A: This is not an all or none issue. It depends on how often the child is kept up, how late the child is kept up, how the child naps, how the child behaves and looks in the late afternoon. The loving bond between child and parent is not simply measured in the number of minutes you spend with your child; it also has to do with how focused, relaxed, and engaging both you and your child are when together. If your child is a little short on sleep occasionally, it’s probably not a big deal but chronic sleep deficiency is a problem for kids.
Consider the similarities between food and sleep. Let’s first think about food and food quality. Food is a biological need. Food is energy for the body. Poor quality food –junk food – damages the body by causing all manner of medical issues including malnutrition, anemia, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. A little junk food is O.K., a lot is not.
Now let’s think about sleep and sleep quality. Quality sleep means consolidated sleep occurring in phase with circadian rhythms. Sleep is also a biological need. Sleep is energy for the brain; poor quality sleep harms the brain. Think of poor quality sleep as junk sleep. Junk sleep is just as bad for our children as junk food. Just as you read labels on food to determine quality, think of sleep quality for your child. You would not starve your child by withholding food; try to not let your child get short on sleep.
Sleep is the power source that keeps your mind alert and calm. Every night and at every nap, sleep recharges the brain’s battery. Unlike a light bulb that shuts down completely when it is turned off, your child’s sleeping brain is active and purposeful. Providing your child’s growing brain with quality sleep is necessary for its development. Sleeping well increases brainpower just as weightlifting strengthens muscles. Sleeping well makes your child physically relaxed and mentally alert; he is at his personal best. Sleep is not a luxury, sleep is a biological necessity.
HEALTHY SLEEP IS LIKE HEALTHY FOOD
Many questions have been received regarding nap problems, bedtime battles, night awakenings, and difficulties with extinction or graduated extinction. It is not possible to answer all of these individual questions but it is obvious that many of the parents have not read the earlier posts that provide explicit answers to these questions. I understand and am sympathetic to the sleep deprivation and frustration that you feel. However, if you do not have the energy to read the earlier posts, the solution to most sleep problems will usually include a much earlier bedtime. Super early bedtimes are not the only answer to sleep problems but they are usually a necessary part of the sleep solution. if you are unable to do any reading, your default should be a temporary super early bedtime to get some improvement.
--------------------------------------------------

The above is a post from Dr Weissbluth's blog.  It seems like the majority of sleep issues (nap issues, bedtime battles, night wakings,etc) stem from overtired.  And the best solution to this is an early beddtime.  This can be as early as 5:30 PM or so.  As crazy as that sounds! But let me assure you that these early bedtimes CAN work.  It is possible that the super early bedtimes may only be temporary until the sleep deficit is caught up and then it will slowly move backward.  But there are children who will thrive on an earlier bedtime and will continue to have this for a while and that is perfectly fine too.  So if you are having some sleep disturbances give this a shot.  It is really worth a try.  Now if your children's bedtime is normally 8 PM you may not move it up so early and it may involve some trial and error to see what works but you may find your sleep issues gone after trying this simple solution!
Good luck!