Toddlers' sleep pressure

Dr Pamela Douglas4th of Oct 202323rd of May 2024

toddler sleeps face down on rug

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.

The second way sleep is controlled is by sleep pressure.

People might tell you that sleep is controlled by sleep associations like always putting your toddler in the cot to sleep, but that is not actually true: it's high sleep pressure that sends toddlers (and all humans) to sleep.

Sleep will happen wherever your toddler is and whatever youre doing, once the sleep pressure is high enough.

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 me 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.

Finished

Next up in I would like a brief and simple overview

Toddlers need sensory nourishment

toddler climbing over wall of sand pit

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.

Toddlers have a powerful need for lots of experience that they can see, smell, taste and feel in their bodies. We call this 'sensory experience' or 'sensory nourishment'.

Toddlers will cry and fuss or dial up in low sensory environments because their sensory needs aren't being met.

The inside of your home is low in sensory adventure compared to the outside world. Unfortunately, a play gym or new toys only entertains toddlers for very short periods of time, if at all!