Baby sleep superpower #2: rich stimulation = sleep
This page is part of a collection of short articles called Brief & simple, which together make up a quick summary of The Possums Sleep Program in plain language. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.
Your superpower #2 for healthy sleep is making sure that your baby has plenty of rich and changing sensory adventures.
It's hard work keeping your baby dialled down inside at home. When your baby dials up at home, you might think it's because your baby is tired. But it is more likely your baby is becoming bored and needs a change of things to see and experience. See what happens if you step outside!
Your baby's night-time sleep will be healthiest if you (or the baby's carer) get out of the house during the day and do the things that you enjoy. This might be seeing friends or going for a walk. If you have older children, you (or the carer) will need to meet their needs for activities outside the house. Let your baby's sleep simply fit in with your daily activities outside the home.
“Daytime is for living, nights are for sleeping!”
If your baby is kept happy looking at and feeling the amazing world around them, the sleep pressure will finally rise high enough to send baby to sleep without any fuss. Day-time naps are just meant to take the edge off the rising sleep pressure and might only be a few minutes long. That's normal and is better for helping your baby sleep well at night. Long daytime naps can stop the night time sleep pressure building for many babies, and after a while might cause excessive night time waking.
Acknowledgements
I'm grateful to Professor Sophie Havighurst, Ros June, and Caroline Ma at Mindful, The University of Melbourne, for their feedback on the articles in the Brief & simple section of The Possums Sleep Program. They helped to keep the language plain and the concepts as accessible as possible. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.
Recommended resources
Plan enjoyable days outside the home to help with baby sleep
What is sensory motor nourishment and why does it help with baby sleep?
Go for lots of walks when you're caring for a baby or toddler
Spend time with kind and encouraging people
Spend as much time in nature as possible when you're caring for a baby or toddler
