How can my baby learn to connect sleep cycles? A sleep cycle is when the brain cycles from wake through the stages of sleep including non-REM and REM sleep. In little ones sleep cycles are shorter than in adults, ranging from about 45 to 60 minutes for newborns, to around 90 minutes by school-age. [...]
How can I help my child who has more nightmares than usual since the coronavirus pandemic? It is not uncommon for children (and adults!) to have more nightmares during times of stress and uncertainty. Even if your child is too young to understand the concept of COVID-19, she likely does perceive [...]
How do we get our sleep schedules back on track during the coronavirus pandemic? Changes in and disruptions to sleep schedules are very common right now. Almost all families are having to adapt to changes in schedule and routine in response to COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Many childcare centers and [...]
What is Ferber sleep training? The Ferber method is a type of modified (or graduated) extinction approach to sleep training. In the case of bedtime, extinction (unmodified) is simply a fancy way of saying “ignoring a specific behavior (like crying) until it stops.” It does not mean ignoring [...]
My baby won’t sleep – what am I doing wrong? Parents (and others in their lives) may blame themselves when their little one doesn’t sleep well, but it is important to recognize that many aspects of a baby’s sleep are not related to parenting. Your baby might have a medical condition, such [...]
Should I use music to help my baby get to sleep? Music can be a nice addition to the bedtime routine, especially if it seems to help your little one relax. You can play any type of music that your baby seems to enjoy; there is not a great deal of evidence to suggest that one type of music or sound [...]
What is a good naptime routine? A good naptime routine is typically a shortened version of the bedtime routine. So, no need to use all the steps – instead, use the last couple of steps. For example, you can go to the bathroom or change a diaper, read a book or sing a song, then have some snuggle [...]
How can I keep my baby on a schedule on vacation? Going on vacation with a baby can definitely be challenging, but there are a few things that you can do to help the trip go more smoothly in terms of sleep. For instance, try to keep naptimes and bedtimes as close to their usual times as possible. [...]
Is it bad for her teeth to sleep with a bottle? Falling asleep with a bottle is generally bad for a baby’s teeth and is not recommended. It has been associated with getting cavities at a younger age. The other thing to think about is that when a baby falls asleep at bedtime with a bottle, he is [...]
My baby wakes to feed all night. What can I do? Having a baby that wakes to feed during the night can be very challenging for parents and other caregivers. Although it may be a natural time for your little one to wake, it’s not a natural time for you to wake – so it can be pretty disruptive. [...]