What should I know about toddler sleep? 1. It is normal for toddlers (and everyone else!) to wake several times during the night. 2. Most toddlers (over 80 %) stop taking naps between the ages of 3 and 4 years, but some will still need a nap at age 5 years and a few may even need a nap at age 6 [...]
My toddler has a lot of trouble separating from me at bedtime and during the day. What can I do to help him sleep better? Separation distress usually emerges around 6 months when infants develop a strong attachment to their primary caregivers. It typically peaks between 18 and 24 months, but can [...]
What are nighttime fears? How is that different from something like an anxiety disorder? How can I respond to nighttime fears? Nighttime fears involve any fears that are associated with being in the dark and/or alone at bedtime or during the night. The most common nighttime fears are fear of being [...]
What is the Huggy Puppy? How can it help children who are afraid at night or who are having trouble sleeping because they were exposed to trauma? The Huggy Puppy intervention (HPI) was developed by Professor Avi Sadeh as a brief intervention to help young children cope with severe stress [...]
I have young foster children in the home who have been maltreated in the past. How might that affect their sleep? The scientific literature suggests that children who have been maltreated are at risk of long term sleep difficulties, such as difficulty sleeping and experiencing nightmares. Of [...]
Even though he is young I think my child is anxious. Will that affect his sleep? Beyond typical nighttime fears, anxiety can start early in life, so it is indeed possible that your child is suffering from anxiety and I would suggest contacting a health care provider to discuss your concerns [...]
My baby screams during the night then resists being held or comforted. What is going on? It’s possible that your little one is having a sleep terror or a confusional arousal (something like a less intense sleep terror). Sleep terrors are the exact same thing as sleepwalking but more dramatic. [...]
My toddler is afraid of the dark. What can I do? Being afraid of the dark is incredibly common for toddlers and preschool-aged children. It is also normal for you to give some reassurance to your little one when he is afraid. Be careful, though, not to provide too much attention or reassurance to [...]
How can I get her to sleep with the light off? When toddlers have the light on, it probably means they are afraid of the dark. To help your little one become more comfortable being alone in the dark there a few things you can do. First, have some fun in the dark. You can play a game in the dark or [...]
My toddler is afraid at bedtime. What can I do? If your toddler is afraid at bedtime, take some steps to help him relax and be as comfortable as possible. Creating a relaxing atmosphere by singing or talking to him can help your toddler sleep [...]