What does “sleep through the night” actually mean? Not surprisingly, this means different things to different people and it strongly depends on the age of the child. Sleeping through the night involves several hours of consolidated sleep. For a 5-year-old this might be 10-12 hours. For a [...]
How long should my toddler wear diapers or pull-ups? Your toddler can wear diapers or pull-ups until he or she is ready and receptive to begin daytime toilet training or until he or she becomes dry at night. Daytime use There is really no reason to eliminate diapers or pull-ups during the [...]
My child has autism. Who can help me with his sleep? Many children with autism have a team of people including occupational therapists, behavior therapists, and speech therapists. All of the people on a child’s team can play a role in helping with sleep. Most families have a person who [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
I have postpartum depression. What can you tell me about how this might affect my little one’s sleep? Links between postpartum depression and infant sleep problems have been reported. It is important that you realize that this does not necessarily mean that your depression is leading to [...]
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 child has autism. What can I expect about her sleep? Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders often experience sleep difficulties. These can include difficulties falling asleep, maintaining sleep and experiencing short sleep duration. As with other disorders, the reasons for the [...]
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 [...]