My toddler is d/Deaf or hard of hearing and transitioning to bedtime is a struggle. What can I do? It’s no secret that young children thrive on routine and predictability. Like most toddlers, children who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing benefit from clear communication and predictable transitions [...]
Are sleep terrors from unresolved trauma, especially since he has type 1 diabetes (T1D)? Sleep terrors can be distressing to witness as they involve a sudden apparent arousal from sleep followed by what appears to be terror. Although they can be related to (and sometimes made worse by) things [...]
How can we get better sleep when my child has type 1 diabetes (T1D)? Monitoring alarms wake me up all night. Technology can play a central role in diabetes management. For example, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and mobile phones can all play a role in glucose management. However, [...]
My baby is partially sighted/blind – how do I help them sleep? How does light affect my baby’s sleep patterns? Newborn babies (0 to around 3-months) sleep (and wake) throughout the 24-hours as new parents know too well! By 6 months of age babies take most of their sleep at night and day naps [...]
My baby was exposed to opioids. How will he sleep? It is very common for newborns with prenatal opioid exposure to have sleep difficulties. A baby with “prenatal opioid exposure” is one who has been exposed to opioids while his biological mother was still pregnant. Sleeping for short amounts of [...]
How can I soothe my extra-fussy baby? Some babies can be extra-fussy, which can make things even more difficult at sleep times. For instance, babies who were exposed to opioids and other substances during pregnancy may be extra fussy. There may be times when your baby is very fussy and you feel [...]
My oldest child has narcolepsy. Do I need to be worried that my toddler will have it too? First degree relatives of people who have narcolepsy only have a 1-2% risk of developing narcolepsy. A first degree relative is a person’s child, sibling (brother or sister), or parent. In addition, familial [...]
My toddler has epilepsy, what are some things to consider about her sleep? Sleep deprivation can cause an increase in seizures. So, ensuring that your child gets enough sleep (for her age) is vital. Also, many sleep disorders disrupt sleep and can lead to sleep deprivation. Therefore, it is [...]
My child has Down syndrome. What should I know about his sleep? For all children, whether or not they have Down syndrome, falling asleep at the beginning of the night, and falling back to sleep after natural night-time waking, is something they have to learn how to do. For some children this comes [...]
Why is my baby very restless when he sleeps? All children have natural brief awakenings in the night as they journey through sleep. If you are watching your baby sleep, you may notice him change position – if he is old enough he may sit up, rub his eyes, and then settle down again. This happens [...]