Where is it safe for my baby to sleep? This is an important question for all new parents, particularly as babies spend more time asleep than they do awake in the first months of life. Comfort is important for your little one but always keep safety in mind too. Cot death (sudden unexplained infant [...]
My baby is partially sighted/blind – how do I help them sleep? How does light affect my baby’s sleep patterns? Newborn babies (0 to around 3-months) sleep (and wake) throughout the 24-hours as new parents know too well! By 6 months of age babies take most of their sleep at night and day naps [...]
What can I do to help at bedtime while I am isolated from my family during the coronavirus pandemic? This will depend a little on whether you are isolating within the home or elsewhere. In some ways mom or dad being away at work may be easier for young children to understand than mom or dad being [...]
When can she lie on her stomach? All babies should sleep on their backs during the first year of life. This is important for naps in the day as well as at night-time and helps prevent sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS). There are only a few simple rules to follow to protect your baby – see [...]
My child has Down syndrome. What should I know about his sleep? For all children, whether or not they have Down syndrome, falling asleep at the beginning of the night, and falling back to sleep after natural night-time waking, is something they have to learn how to do. For some children this comes [...]
Why is my baby very restless when he sleeps? All children have natural brief awakenings in the night as they journey through sleep. If you are watching your baby sleep, you may notice him change position – if he is old enough he may sit up, rub his eyes, and then settle down again. This happens [...]
Is it normal for my baby to sleep with his eyes open? Most babies close their eyes when they are asleep. This stops light from stimulating the brain and keeps the eyes moist during sleep. A small minority of babies sleep with their eyelids partly open. This has a medical name: physiological [...]
Does sharing a bed with my child affect the risk of SIDS? Extensive research across the world has identified very clear risk factors for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and, importantly, ways that parents can reduce the chance of this happening. Without a doubt, sharing a bed increases the risk [...]
How do I know if my baby is sleeping too much? All babies are unique and have different sleep needs. The range of normal is quite wide. So even if your baby seems to sleep more than others, there is a good chance they are just a super sleeper! The amount of sleep babies need changes with every [...]
My child has developmental delays. What should I know about her sleep? Children with developmental delay take longer to reach their milestones than others of the same age. They may be late to use the potty or may still have tantrums long after their peers. In just the same way, they can take longer [...]