How to Help Your Baby or Child Sleep Better This Summer
Summer is a gorgeous time of year, longer days, sunshine (hopefully!), and lots more time outdoors. But if you’re a parent, you might notice that summer can also throw your little one’s sleep completely off. Between the heat, light evenings, noisy barbecues, and late bedtimes, it’s no wonder so many families struggle.
Here’s the good news: there are simple ways to protect your child’s sleep while still enjoying everything summer has to offer.
The Light Problem
Those bright evenings can be magical—but they can also confuse our children’s body clocks. Our bodies are wired to sleep when it’s dark and wake when it’s light. So if your child is struggling to fall asleep or waking earlier than usual, light might be to blame.
What can help:
Blackout blinds are your best friend. You don’t need anything fancy, sheets on the windows or a travel blackout curtain can do the trick.
Keep lights dim in the hour before bed to signal that nighttime is coming.
Sunglasses in the late afternoon can also help your child’s body start to wind down (yes, really!).
The Heat
Warm weather is lovely for playtime but not so lovely for sleep. Babies and young children can easily overheat, especially during those hot sticky nights.
What can help:
Dress your baby lightly, think just a nappy or a short-sleeved vest. Use a 0.5 tog sleep sack if your little one needs one.
Keep the room as cool as you can. Open windows (if safe to do so), use a fan (but not directly on baby), and close blinds during the day to block the sun.
Offer more fluids during the day if your child is old enough, hydration helps with sleep too.
Travel, Visitors and Events
Holidays, visitors, garden parties... summer is full of fun disruptions. Sometimes routines go out the window, and that’s okay! But if every day becomes unpredictable, sleep can suffer.
What can help:
Try to keep a consistent bedtime as often as possible, even if everything else changes.
Bring familiar sleep cues with you when travelling, your baby’s usual sleep sack, white noise machine, or favourite teddy can make a big difference.
If bedtime gets pushed late now and then, don’t stress. Just try to get back on track the next day.
Early Wake-Ups
With so much light and excitement, many babies and toddlers start waking with the birds. If you're seeing 5am (or earlier) on the clock, you're not alone.
What can help:
Make sure bedtime isn’t too late. Over-tiredness can lead to earlier waking, not later!
Check for light and noise creeping in. Sometimes a simple blackout curtain or white noise machine can save your mornings.
Summer Sleep Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle
With a few small tweaks, summer sleep can still be smooth. And if things do go a bit haywire? You can always reset. Our little ones are more adaptable than we give them credit for.
If you need personalised support this summer—whether it’s early mornings, holiday naps, or heatwave wake-ups—I’d love to help. Just [link to contact/book a call] and we can chat.
Enjoy the sunshine (and fingers crossed for a few lie-ins!)
