At about 18 months, many parents agree that their toddlers sleep less well than usual for naps and at night time. In their brilliant book, The Wonder Weeks, Hetty Vanderijt and Frans Plooij refer to a development leap between 18 and 21 months, which results in what they call “fussy behaviour”. Parents have come to call this “the 18 month sleep regression”.
At around 18 months of age, toddlers are truly on the go from morning to night. No longer just walking, many are running, jumping and climbing. They are able to imitate older siblings and adults, and language development suddenly takes off with many toddlers being able to use hundreds of words (although we might not recognise them all just yet). It still surprises me a little when I ask my 18 month old, Frankie, to do something , like fetch me some socks from the drawer, and he does it without hesitation.
No wonder then, that with all this going on, their sleep is disrupted. I have found that toddlers at this age often become exhausted, waking frequently at night and struggling to nap for very long in the day. (more…)
This week’s Star of the Blog is 10 month old Lottie, sleeping soundly on her sun lounger. Here’s what Lottie’s mum had to say:
“I’ve been meaning to write for ages to tell you just how wonderful I think your Sleepytot bunny is! I’ve attached a photo of my 10 month old daughter with her beloved bunny, taking a snooze on a sun lounger on holiday! I recommend the sleepytot to everyone I know whose baby has a dummy and have just ordered another ‘spare’ just in case!”
Bringing your newborn baby home for the first time is both exciting and daunting. For first time parents, leaving the maternity ward and its reassuring team of experts to arrive home with a new baby can feel overwhelming. In addition to the many concerns you may have, during the summer months there is the additional worry that your baby may overheat.
Babies can’t regulate their temperatures during the first month and so it’s essential we don’t put them in a position where they can become too hot. As a general rule of thumb, you should dress your baby in one layer more than you. If you want to check her temperature, you can do so by feeling the back of her neck with the back of your hand. If she feels hot, remove a layer of clothes or bedding. (more…)
This week’s star of the blog is little Matthew. Here’s a message from his mum.
“Matthew (18 months) has now had his Sleepytot for 10 months and they are firm friends. In our house his name is Bunny, which Matthew can now almost say. When it’s time for bed or if Matthew’s feeling sleepy he asks for Bun.
Bunny goes everywhere with us. I have attached a few pics to prove that Bunny truly helps Matthew sleep anywhere and everywhere…. (more…)
As you probably know by now, I just LOVE it when people send in pictures of their small people with Sleepytot. It’s genuinely really great to see how loved Sleepytot is and as we know, a much loved cuddly friend can make a huge difference in the day to day life of a baby, toddler or pre-schooler. Check out Fifi and her Sleepytot baby comforter in the images below.
Experts advise that the safest way for a baby to sleep is with nothing in the cot, only baby and sleeping bag, for the first year. This is because a soft toy, lovey, blankie or baby comforter can present a suffocation risk.
During the first year, babies develop at very different stages so while one child may be able to sit up, crawl and handle a comforter with confidence at 8 months, another may only just be learning how to roll over. This is why it’s essential parents use their judgement when giving a baby under one a lovey to sleep with. Infants don’t have the strength or co-ordination to remove anything that may fall over their face.
However, baby comforters, blankies, or loveys, can play an essential role in helping a baby learn how to sleep through the night. And the earlier they’re introduced, the sooner they can help give your baby that all important comfort and reassurance at bedtime. Here’s how to introduce the Sleepytot baby comforter so that you and your little one get all the benefits of a baby comforter and keep safe too. (more…)
If you’re anything like me, bedtime doesn’t always go smoothly. Some days all is great and those last few minutes with the little ones snuggled up in bed listening to you finish the bedtime story are just perfect.
But there are many nights when the baby won’t go to sleep or your toddler asks for a drink for the 5th time, you’re frazzled from a long day and you just want the kids to GO TO SLEEP! On evenings like this, I can say for certain that I’m not exactly “emotionally available”.
Yet new infant sleep research suggests that parents who are “emotionally available” to their babies and toddlers at bedtime help their children to sleep better at night. Researchers videotaped mothers in 39 families as they put their babies to bed, and also had them fill out questionnaires and sleep diaries. Dads were recruited to participate in the research but not enough of them interacted with their little ones long enough and so the study focused on mothers. (more…)
I’m not a big believer in strict routines to help a baby nap well in the day and at night. Babies and children do need us to help structure their sleep by setting bed times and making sure they get good quality naps in the day. But I haven’t found one, perfect routine that works for all babies. Every baby is different. Getting sleep right for our little ones comes down to paying close attention to what they’re doing, what they need, and then guiding them into the ideal routine.
But recently, lots of you have been asking me to outline some sleep routines from birth to pre-school age. I understand why it makes life easier and less confusing if there is a rough guide to follow. So I’m going to tell you what I do and what works for me. (more…)
