What Is SIDS? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep, which is why it’s sometimes still called “crib death.” Can SIDS Be Prevented? A lack of answers is part of what makes SIDS so frightening. SIDS …
Newborns don’t yet have a sense of day and night. They sleep around the clock, and because their tiny stomachs don’t hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long, they wake often to eat — no matter what time of day or night it is. How Long Will My Newborn Sleep? …
By this age, your baby should be well on the way toward having a regular sleep pattern. Some infants, particularly those who are breastfed, may still wake at night. But most no longer need a middle-of-the-night feeding. How Long Will My Baby Sleep? Most babies this age should sleep 12–16 hours a day, which includes …
Toddlers are more and more aware of their surroundings, so distractions might disrupt them at bedtime. Their growing imaginations can start to interrupt sleep too. Now more than ever, a simple and consistent bedtime routine is a parent’s best bet for getting a sleepy toddler snugly into bed. How Much Sleep Does My Toddler Need? Between …
Even toddlers may speak about having dreams — pleasant ones and scary ones. Almost every child has an occasional frightening or upsetting dream. But nightmares seem to peak during the preschool years when fear of the dark is common. Nightmares aren’t completely preventable, but parents can set the stage for a peaceful night’s rest. That …
What Are Night Terrors? Most parents have comforted their child after the occasional nightmare. But if your child has ever had what’s known as a night terror (or sleep terror), his or her fear was likely inconsolable, no matter what you tried. A night terror is a sleep disruption that seems similar to a nightmare, but …
Why Are Naps Important? Sleep is important for a child’s growth, development, and overall health. For infants and young children, total sleep time includes sleep at night and naps during the day. How much sleep kids need varies by age. While every child is different, experts recommend: Infants (0–3 months): 14–17 hours. Infants tend to sleep on and …
Sleep — or lack of it — is common concern for parents. As new parents quickly learn, the well-being of everyone in the household can depend on how well their baby sleeps. And when they’re older, kids who don’t get enough sleep can have trouble paying attention, mood swings, behavior problems, and leaning problems. What …
What Is Flat Head Syndrome? Flat head syndrome usually happens when a baby sleeps with the head turned to the same side during first months of life. This causes a flat spot, either on one side or the back of the head. Flat head syndrome is also called positional plagiocephaly (pu-ZI-shu-nul play-jee-oh-SEF-uh-lee). What Causes Flat …
What Is Sleepwalking? Sleepwalking is very common in kids. Most kids who walk in their sleep only do so occasionally and outgrow it by the teen years. Kids tend to sleepwalk within an hour or two of falling asleep and may walk around for anywhere from a few seconds to 30 minutes. It’s difficult to …
