What is narcolepsy, and when does it develop? Do I have to be concerned about my toddler? Narcolepsy is a rare, chronic neurologic disorder that causes people to have excessive sleepiness during the daytime even though they are getting plenty of sleep at night. People with narcolepsy often describe [...]
I have narcolepsy. Do I need to worry about my baby having it too? Narcolepsy can certainly run in families, but this is actually more the exception rather than the rule. Fewer than 5% of people with narcolepsy will have a first-degree relative (parent, child, or sibling) who also has narcolepsy. [...]
How can I tell if my toddler is sleeping too much? Most toddlers will require between 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps. If your toddler seems to be sleeping more than this, he may be sleeping too much – and there can be several possible reasons [...]
How do dads impact baby’s sleep? Research on the role of fathers in infant sleep development is overall scarce, but there are some findings on this topic that demonstrate how a father’s involvement in caregiving is related to infant sleep. Overall mothers do more infant nighttime caregiving [...]
I just had a baby, how can I get the best sleep possible? (is there a difference between whether I room-share with my baby or not?) You’ll be woken up, it’s almost inevitable – but try not to worry about when you will be woken up next; you’ll sleep better. You should expect that your sleep [...]
I have bad insomnia. Is my little one at risk for developing insomnia? It is true that sleep disturbances such as insomnia tend to run in families. This may be both for genetic reasons (you pass your genes onto your children which may increase his or her risk of developing insomnia) and [...]
How can she sleep if I work late? Many families struggle with this. The most important thing is that your little one is getting enough sleep overall, even if her bedtime needs to be a bit later. If she has a later bedtime and then can sleep a bit later, then she will be able to get the right amount [...]
How can my newborn sleep all night? Congratulations! You just had a baby! You’re probably wondering when she will sleep through the night. Well, that really depends on the baby. Some babies are ready to sleep through the night by 3-months-old – others are ready at 6-months-old or even a bit [...]
Is it normal for my newborn’s sleep to change daily? Yes! It is completely normal for a newborn’s (0-2 months) sleep to change daily! Newborns typically sleep for short periods of time (30 minutes to 3 or 4 hours); the amount of time your little one sleeps is largely driven by hunger. So, [...]
How can I help my toddler or preschooler follow directions at bedtime? Toddlers and preschoolers can have a tough time listening and following directions at bedtime – regardless of how easy it is for them to do those things during the day. This is often because everyone is tired at bedtime. [...]