Is reading at bedtime good for my baby? Reading at bedtime is a great idea for your baby. It has a lot of great benefits! Reading at bedtime can help you bond with your baby, which can help your baby’s social and emotional development. Sitting together or holding your baby while you read and [...]
How can I build good sleep habits for my baby? There are many ways to do this, particularly after 3 months of age when your baby’s crying should have settled down and your baby is becoming more alert and awake during the daytime. Start by establishing a feed-play-sleep pattern, that is feed your [...]
My child has ADHD. What are some strategies I can use to make sure he gets the best sleep possible. Sleep problems – such as coming in and out of the room at the start of the night or wanting mom or dad next to them as they fall asleep at the start of the night – are very common in children [...]
What are some things I can do to help my children sleep around the holidays? It is so common for children to have sleep disruptions during the holiday period! Evening events, traveling, spending time with extended family, and excitement of the season can all contribute to inconsistent schedules and [...]
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) [...]
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 [...]
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 do I help him transition to one nap per day? Little ones transition from taking two naps to one nap per day by about 18-months-old. The easiest way to do that is to slowly move the morning nap a bit later every few days until he is napping at about 1:00 p.m. You will also notice that the [...]
Are some children better sleepers than others? Yes – definitely. Individual differences certainly matter. A common experience of parents who have more than one child is that every child is different. This is true in several areas and sleep is not an exception. Some children are deep sleepers, [...]