A friend once told me that to minimise any problems you have with sleeping (setting up a routine, naps etc) that you need to make sure that the babies room is pitch black. She has actually gone to the extent of covering the windows in black plastic so that no light gets through. And, for her at least, it has worked. Her daughter is fabulous sleeper...
But I was wondering if anyone else has heard of / done this and if it has worked for you. In all the books and articles I've read I haven't ever come across this recommendation...
I love sunlight so am reluctant to go to the extent of covering the windows, but we only have wooden venetians in bubs room and they do let a lot of light through. If it really does make a difference then I think I will happily change the blinds and / or cover the windows, but I kinda just wanted to see if it is really worth it before I do...
My opinion (and this is just my opinion) making the room pitch black is just setting up for problems. What do they do for day sleeps if they aren't home? Will their daughter only sleep in pitch black darkness?
Personally I have found no relation between the darkness of the room and sleep. Jazz has slept well on a rug outside at a picnic, and slept shocking at night in the darkness. And vice versa, she's slept well in the dark, and not well in the light. If she's going to sleep she's going to sleep with or without pure darkness.
I have not heard this and I personally wouldn't bother to do it cos as Leasha said it is likely to cause more problems than it is worth!
I was encouraged that for daytime naps the curtains should be allowing a bit of light it. I believe it gives them a cue to know that it is just nap time and not bed time. Flynn's room is on the dark side of the house but I always have the curtains open for day sleeps to let him know that it is daytime and just time for a little sleep (that is what i always say to him when it is nap time).
Some kids are better sleepers than others and your friend may have had an excellent sleeper without blacked out windows as much as with them!
HTH
I just wanted to say I agree with Leasha and catherinemoses. My DD sleeps in a room that is slightly darkened during the day but still has some light coming in. That way she knows its not night time but it is time to rest. DD is a pretty good sleeper and sleeps anywhere... but I think that has more to do with her being so placid than anything
We have light vertical blinds in our place, so I did end up getting thicker curtains for DD's room.
I wouldn't completely black out the windows though - this seems like overkill to me.
ETA: Just remembered, the reason why I bought the curtains wasn't for the day sleeps, it was because DD started waking at first light when she was 1-ish, so the curtains were an attempt to get her to have a bit more of a sleep-in
It depends on the baby. SOme are a lot more sensitive to light than others. DS takesa lot longer to go to sleep at night in daylight savings, so somtimes we put shde cloth on his wondow, but it was still never pitch black.
Now hes afraid of the dark and goes to sleep with his table lamp on. go figure!
Sleeping question...
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