What is melatonin and when does a baby’s brain start producing it? Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland portion of our brains. It helps to regulate our 24-hour sleep-wake cycles, and can be thought of as one of the ‘oils’ that helps the gears of our internal body ‘clock’ [...]
What is a sleep regression? There has been a great deal of talk about “sleep regressions.” What is a sleep regression? A sleep regression is reported to occur when a baby who was sleeping well (or relatively well) all of a sudden has a sleep issue, whether that issue is falling asleep at [...]
Can snoring or sleep apnea affect my child’s development? Snoring is an important symptom of possible obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is when the upper airways (such as the muscles of the throat) close either partially or completely block the normal passage of air through to the lungs. The [...]
How can I help my child with autism settle down and get ready for bed? Many children with autism and other developmental conditions have difficulty calming down and preparing for sleep. The first goal is to help them understand the elements of the bedtime routine. A visual schedule and consistent [...]
What are some examples of how a routine might be changed for my child with autism or other developmental needs? In general, we recommend a similar approach for children who are typically developing and those with special needs: a regular bedtime and a consistent, calming, short (20-30 minutes) [...]
My child has Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome. What things should I know about his sleep? About three quarters of children with Down syndrome have sleep problems. These can be medical, behavioral or a combination of both. Because of certain anatomical features (physical features), a high percentage [...]
My little one has Prader-Willi Syndrome. What specific things should I know about his sleep? Children with Prader-Willi syndrome can feel very hungry, which can lead to over eating and becoming overweight, although many have failure to thrive as infants. Those who are overweight, as well as those [...]
How can I use typical sleep guidelines for my preemie? It is important to remember that premature babies are unlikely to develop at the same pace as full-term babies. Instead, their development is more likely to track their age corrected for their prematurity (that is, their actual age minus the [...]
My daughter has ADHD. Will that affect her sleep? Children with ADHD often experience sleep difficulties. For example, children with this disorder may find it difficult to fall asleep at night or may wake up during the night. They may also find that they have restless legs during the night and [...]
Sleep regressions: do they really happen? Not exactly. Sleep regressions are actually a progression of the brain, not a regression. As your baby gets older, her brain starts to develop and she begins to develop more sleep associations. This means, she begins to associate certain things with falling [...]