How can I keep up with her regular therapy during the coronavirus pandemic? Here are a few things you can do. 1) EMBRACE PLAN B AND PARE DOWN First of all, give yourself recognition for how hard it is to be a parent of a child with any mental health or developmental condition in the time of [...]
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 [...]
What are the top 4 sleep training myths? 1) If you sleep train, you have to let your baby cry it out There are many ways to approach helping a baby learn to sleep through the night, and the specific techniques we recommend depend on the age of the child and parent or family preferences. There are [...]
Should I use a sleep sack? What is a baby sleeping bag? In a word: yes. Putting your baby in a sleep sack – sometimes called a baby sleeping bag – is a great way to ensure that your baby is warm enough without worrying about the safety risk of using blankets. It may also be a good [...]
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) [...]
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 [...]
How do I transition him from sleeping in a swing to sleeping in a crib? There are many reasons that babies end up sleeping in a seat or swing. However, the American Academy of Pediatric recommends that all babies sleep on a firm, flat surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. Therefore, it is best to [...]
How do I stop worrying about him overnight? Many, many caregivers experience this – it’s very common – you are not the only one. You might wake up or realize all of the sudden that your little one has been quiet and asleep for much longer than usual and it makes you wonder what could be [...]