Sleep facts for baby and you
Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Use this facts and guidance page to browse and read about the good-to-know basics and effective ideas for most common baby and parent sleep challenges.
General facts
The Magical Baby Sleep Solution ...
No two babies are the same, just as no two families are the
same. That
means
there is not a
single bedtime method that fits all
.
Depending on your child's and your personality you may be a convinced
co-sleeper or
adhere crying it out methods. Or you may simply follow your instincts
and use ad-hoc tips to help with settling.
My personal
advice will always be based on
a
common-sense, loving and determined
approach
- using the gentle positive progressive techniques that I offer throughout this site, proven to
give the
best results.
That, combined with your own instincts, guiding your baby
(determinedly)
while being guided by her (lovingly) will be all you need.
Why
is sleep important?
How
much sleep is enough?
Find out how many hours
is typical at different ages and how to know if your little one sleeps
enough
or too little.
How she makes it through naps and nights is governed by her
sleep
patterns
. These help us understand that sleeping is a
skill that needs to develop.
The rapid development
from
newborn sleep patterns toward adult-like ones
explains so
well how unpredictable sleeping can be in the first weeks and
months.
Understanding
external
effects on infant sleep patterns
also helps you steer things in the right direction. These effects
range from
personality through home situation and cultural differences to feeding.
Methods and approaches
Start at the
sleeping
through the night
section to explore
how to help your little boy or girl settle well and keep asleep, gently
and effectively, without
crying it out.
When looking for a specific approach that works for you and
your little boy or girl,
start with this
sleep method overview
, where I discuss my own approach as well as the
No
Cry Solution
, Ferber, the
Baby
Whisperer
, etc.
Crying
it out
: pro's and con's and what to do if you want to avoid
having your child cry it out. If you are considering it, have a quick look at
when
cry it out is a no-no
.
For You
Good nights for your infant are important, but equally important for
you,
as a parent or carer.
Mainly
during the first year, many parents experience some form of
sleep
deprivation and its effects
.
These
simple
relaxation techniques
like
belly
breathing
help many moms and dads too.
During pregnancy
During pregnancy, keeping well rested is important to stay fit and
healthy.
Relieve
pregnancy
fatigue and pregnancy sleeping problems
thanks
to simple and effective gestures.
Discover how you can prepare your little one for good naps and nights
through
bonding
during pregnancy
.
Article Author: Heidi Holvoet, PhD - Founder, senior sleep consultant
Heidi Holvoet, PhD, is the founder of the Baby Sleep Advice website and movement, an award-winning author, baby & toddler sleep consultant with 15+ years experience as well as a certified lactation counselor.
Over the years, Heidi has received several awards inluding a Mom's Choice Award (MCA) and National Parenting Awards (NAPPA) for her Baby Sleep Advice website, programs and books. Also, Baby Sleep Advice was awarded "Most Trusted Infant's Sleep Solutions Company 2023" in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2023.
Heidi continually conducts personal research and participates in continued education and in that way stays up to date with current scientific and pyschosocial infant care.
She is also a member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants of which she was one of the earliest contributors. She obtained her PhD degree in physics at the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Heidi is passionate about helping babies and their parents sleep more and better, with her trademark approach that has been proven and praised time and again by parents worldwide to be effective and truly no-tears. Respect for you as a parent and your baby, is at the heart of Heidi's warm and kind support. Her approach always keeps in mind a baby's needs and abilities at any given age, is based on pediatric science and the most up to date knowledge in infant care and sleep science.
As well as the award-winning baby sleep programs, Heidi also offers in-depth 1:1 consults (email to enquire) and easy-access 30-minute SOS Sleep sessions.
Baby waking every hour?
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Sleep schedules by age
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Separation Anxiety
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Crib safety guidelines
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Why does my baby wake up every hour?
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD
