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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)

Differences in babies' sleep

Dr Pamela Douglas9th of Jul 202317th of May 2024

baby happily sleeping on back in blue striped pajamas

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.

Some babies need a lot of sleep. But only nine hours sleep total in 24 hours is normal for other babies, even as newborns. And the amount of sleep your baby needs decreases throughout the first year of your baby's life.

Don't worry about 'sleep windows', or advice to 'catch the first tired signs' or 'make sure your baby doesn't stay awake too long' - these ideas can be very unhelpful! Your baby's sleep needs are unique and tend to change a lot.

It's important to know how much baby sleep needs vary, because often we expect our baby to be asleep for longer than they need - which can cause them to wake excessively at night. Too much sleep during the day eventually disrupts your baby's body clock and sleep patterns.

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

Baby sleep needs are highy variable and decrease throughout the first year of life

How much daytime sleep does your baby need?

What's the difference between normal and excessive night waking in babies?

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Normal baby night waking

asian baby sleeping restfully

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.

Normally, babies wake a few times during the night, right into toddlerhood. What matters is that everyone gets back to sleep quickly after baby is fed.

Don't feel you have to burp, or hold baby upright after feeds, or

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