Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.
menu-icon-libraryfull programsmenu-icon-audioaudio program
what is the possums sleep program?building this program from the scienceresearch that shows it workstestimonials from parents
speak to dr pam
login-iconlogin

Welcome back!

Forgot password
sign up
search

Search programs

Possums Baby Sleep 101 icon

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

Next article

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

Feeds and cuddles help babies sleep

Dr Pamela Douglas9th of Jul 202317th of May 2024

a mother breastfeeds her baby to 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.

Going to sleep with a feed and a cuddle is normal way for human babies to go to sleep. It is much easier than trying to put babies down while they are still awake!

Going to sleep with a feed and cuddle doesn't cause bad habits, whether your baby is breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Rather, going to sleep with a cuddle and feed in the first year of life sets up good habits of feeling loved and safe at sleep time.

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

Frequent flexible breastfeeds help make baby sleep easy

Breastfeeding your baby to sleep doesn't cause bad habits

Frequent flexible bottle feeds help make sleep easy if you're not direct breastfeeding (and baby is under five months of age)

Feeding your bottle fed baby to sleep doesn't cause bad habits

It's biologically normal for babies to need physical contact, feeds, and comfort when they wake in the night

Finished

share this article

Next up in Possums baby sleep 101 (brief & simple)

Babies and sleep safety

A baby sleeping on its back next to a mother sleeping on her side cuddling the baby

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 baby should always be placed on their back to sleep.

Babies who are younger than six months of age need to sleep in the same room as you…

Keep reading
logo-possums
decoration

About us

AboutCode of ethicsSpeak to Dr Pam

Programs

Browse sleep programsAudio programsGet advice

Help & Support

FAQsContact us

Legal

Privacy policyTerms & conditions

Get sleep tips and Possums updates straight to your inbox

Receive tips, updates, offers and more from Possums. We respect your privacy, and we'll never spam you. Unsubscribe anytime.

Dr Pam logo

© Dr Pamela Douglas 2025

Visit to learn more about the Possums project