Once you’ve established a solid sleep routine for your little one, it can feel daunting to step away from that structure. After all, when your little one is finally sleeping well, who wants to mess with a good thing?
When I work with families, I always recommend committing to at least two weeks of a consistent sleep schedule and environment. This gives your child the best chance to settle into a healthy sleep pattern that becomes second nature. It’s important to remember that every child is unique in how quickly they adapt to a new routine, and that’s completely normal. Just like with rolling, crawling, or learning to talk, each baby will develop at their own pace. Sleep is no different.
But after those first few weeks, many parents start to wonder if they can be more flexible. Whether it’s shifting a nap time, having a nap on the go, or delaying bedtime a bit, there will be times when life’s events—like a family gathering or appointment—will disrupt your usual sleep routine. And that’s okay! Not every day can revolve around sleep. So, where do you go from here?
The 80/20 Rule for Sleep
The 80/20 rule is all about striking a balance between enjoying life’s moments and keeping your little one’s sleep on track. It means that most of the time—about 80%—you stick to the sleep routine that helps your little one thrive. This means offering sleep at times that align with their natural rhythms and making sure they’re in a calm, stationary environment for deep, restful sleep. But then, there’s the other 20% of the time where things might not go according to plan. Maybe you push a nap later, delay bedtime, or catch a nap on the go.
So, what happens then?
It really depends on your little one.
Easygoing sleepers often handle these disruptions like champs. They might take a little longer to fall asleep when their routine is off, but overall, they can bounce back without much trouble.
Sensitive sleepers, on the other hand, might show you their limits pretty quickly. A change in routine could lead to a tougher time settling down, affecting their sleep that night and possibly the next day. You might find that while a nap on the go is fine, pushing bedtime isn’t worth the trouble. You’ll only know by giving it a try.
The key is to stay calm and confident. If things don’t go as planned, just return to the routine the next day, and consider an earlier bedtime to help your little one get back on track. Balancing “life” and healthy sleep is totally achievable, and keeping the 80/20 rule in mind can make it easier than you might expect.