How do I get my baby to sleep through fireworks?

the daddy sleep consultant - getting your child through fireworks night

Fireworks night is a favourite in our household. Getting wrapped up and going out into the chilly night for some toffee apples and hot chocolate!

However, it’s not just pets that are impacted by fireworks. Sometimes our little ones can be frightened by the loud bangs which creates some anxiety around bedtime. Even if they aren’t scared and love the colour, it might simply be the loud noises late into the night will keep them awake. So what can we do to help our little ones sleep on bonfire night?

Try to stick to your normal Routine

Getting your child down at their normal bedtime is actually very important when there are fireworks going off. Lots of firework displays – both private and public – are often early evening or from about 7.30/8pm onwards. So if you can get your infant into a deep sleep before the banging starts then they will likely not even notice. 

If the fireworks displays are starting a little earlier in your local area, reducing or bringing their nap forward and subsequently their bedtime (no more than 1 hour) can help in this case. It won’t mean they wake up an hour earlier the next morning.

Try to block the noise from outside

Even if you don’t use white noise on a regular basis, it’s ok to introduce on occasion without worry that your baby or toddler will become dependent on it in the future.

So many parents think that white noise is only to help a baby get to sleep, but it’s primary use after the newborn stage is to block out external sounds from waking your baby. External sounds such as animals, siblings, traffic and of course fireworks.

If you do choose to introduce white noise for fireworks night, don’t go and buy an expensive white noise machine. YouTube, an Amazon Alexa, a Google Nest and apps on your phone have white noise options that will do the job just as well.

The most important thing is to find an option that plays the white noise all night – we all have neighbours that thinks it’s a good idea to set off their bangers at midnight! This is also when your little one will start to be in less of a deep sleep and more prone to being disturbed by noise.

For those that have pets, you will know that they can be really distressed with the fireworks. If you have a dog that will bark until the last bang, white noise is also a great way to reduce the sound in the kids’ rooms.

What do I do when my infant wakes up to fireworks?

If your little one does wake with the fireworks, don’t be worried about giving them extra support. We always say you should give your child a a few minutes to see if they resettle themselves as so often they murmur as they transitions between sleep cycles, especially if a loud bang has gone off just as they are doing the transition.

But if they are upset, go in and comfort them. One night of support if they are distressed by the fireworks will not set a good sleeper back. Just try and avoid bringing them into your room if you can as this is one sleep pattern that can take hold very quickly! 

the daddy sleep consultant - getting your child through fireworks night

What Do I do for bedtime if I take my child to a Fireworks display?

If your child is older and you want to take them to a display but it’s later than their normal bedtime, there are a few tips for making sure their sleep isn’t impacted too much.

Firstly, if they still nap, let them sleep longer than usual or do the nap a little later. You might be in the habit of waking your pre-schooler as to not impact bedtime. And if they do go to bed later, let them lie in a bit in the morning if they want to. Letting them catch up on the extra sleep is better than them being overtired the next day. 

If your taking your baby to a display, letting them fall asleep in their pram or carrier is fine. You can just transfer them to their cot when you arrive home.

If we go out to a display, we always dress the boys in their pyjamas with a jumper and joggers over the top. It adds a layer of warmth but if they fall asleep in the car on the way home it’s easy to strip them off and get them into bed without disturbing them too much.

If they wake up in the process, it just means they are a little drowsy as they get into bed and they have a good chance of drifting back off quickly.

If you are staying at home and hoping your little one sleeps though, or getting out and embracing the banging, we wish you a safe and happy fireworks night. 

 

We are a husband and wife business, and are leading sleep consultants based in the UK. If you are having issues with your little one’s sleep, have a look at our sleep plans which range from an online plan to one-to-one coaching. If it feels like you’ve tried everything, then come and try the one thing you haven’t which we know works – that’s our proven sleep method Comforting Through Change™.

We also train people to become sleep consultants. So if you fancy a career change, one where you can be at home ALL the time, contact us via our Academy. We would love to hear from you.

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