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Possums Baby Sleep 101


  • Introduction to this brief & simple section of The Possums Baby Sleep Program
  • Key things to know about babies' sleep
  • The dial on your baby's nervous system
  • Babies' sleep needs
  • Differences in babies' sleep
  • Normal baby night waking
  • Night waking in babies - how much is too much?
  • Babies' body clock
  • Babies' sleep pressure
  • Babies need sensory nourishment
  • Babies' bedtime
  • Feeds and cuddles help babies sleep
  • Babies and sleep safety
  • Key steps to help with babies' sleep
  • Set a regular wake-up time for your baby
  • Baby sleep superpower #1: milk = sleep
  • Baby sleep superpower #2: rich stimulation = sleep
  • Let your baby nap on the go
  • Active evenings help babies' night sleep

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  • Possums Baby Sleep 101
  • S1: Possums baby sleep 101 (brief & simple)

Babies need sensory nourishment

Dr Pamela Douglas9th of Jul 202317th of May 2024

father holding baby being carried in a brightly coloured sling

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.

Babies 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 motor nourishment'.

Babies 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 toy only entertains babies for very short periods of time, if at all!

Babies like to be in a carer's arms, a carrier or somehow close to a loving adult or older sibling's body a lot of the time, for comfort and also because being close to a loving adult is a much richer sensory experience than lying down on their own.

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

What is sensory motor nourishment and why does it help with baby sleep?

Filling your baby's sensory tank

Why sensory motor nourishment by babywearing makes life easier (not harder)

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Babies' bedtime

mother and baby cuddling in bed

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.

In most countries around the world, babies don't go to sleep in the evening until close to parents' bedtime. The problem with an early bedtime is that after a few weeks it might result in excessive night waking.

Early bedtimes might also result in your baby's

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