My toddler is d/Deaf or hard of hearing and transitioning to bedtime is a struggle. What can I do? It’s no secret that young children thrive on routine and predictability. Like most toddlers, children who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing benefit from clear communication and predictable transitions [...]
Is my toddler having a sleep regression? Changes in sleep patterns are normal and not necessarily “regressions.” Those changes interact with developmental changes, environmental changes, and things like sickness or changes in routine. They’re also different for every child. That said, helping [...]
Troubleshooting: how can I help my older toddler sleep? Consistency and predictability are so important! But, there’s no one size fits all fix. Predictability and choice are important to many preschoolers. Putting the bedtime routine on a visual schedule for your child (and you) can help keep [...]
What is a sleep association? A sleep association is the set of conditions that a baby needs to fall asleep, such as nursing, rocking, and/or being patted to sleep. Sleep associations can be a single thing (being rocked), or a combination of things (being rocked while listening to a specific song). [...]
How can I help my baby feel more comfortable at night when she is congested or has a cold? Upper respiratory tract infections, usually from a virus, are common in infants and young children. They can disrupt sleep in both the baby and the parents! The important thing is to make sure that your [...]
Can I change my baby’s “disaster naps”? Short naps of 30-45 minutes (“disaster” naps or “cat” naps) are quite common in infants younger than 9 months. They are often completely normal, as some young babies are simply short nappers. Infants that are “short” nappers can [...]
Is it normal for my baby to make noises during sleep? Most sounds that infants make in sleep are normal. The noises can be frequent and sound like smacking, snorting, gurgling, grunting, etc. An infant’s breathing pattern can change at different times while they are asleep, sometimes breathing [...]
How can I help my toddler nap? There are several things that you can do to help your child nap. Keys for a good naptime A good routine for naps will help your child to learn to sleep well and on their own. • Keep naptime at about the same time every day • It’s best to make your [...]
How do I help my toddler keep napping as he gets older? Virtually all 2-year-olds and about 87% of 3-year-olds nap, while only about 8% of children still nap at age 5. A number of things influence the transition from a having a nap plus nighttime sleep, to nighttime sleep only. We know that a [...]
How do I stop contact naps? You can stop contact napping by taking a few steps. First, create a consistent sleep schedule for naps (and bedtime). Become familiar with and recognize signs of drowsiness in your baby (such as yawning, eye rubbing) and start naptime when you see these behaviors. [...]