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Toddlers need sensory nourishment

Dr Pamela Douglas4th of Oct 202323rd of May 2024

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!

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.

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Toddlers' bedtime

toddler and dad relaxing 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 toddler's body clock being ready to start the day early in the morning when it's still dark. This results in either

  • Being wide awake

  • Breastfeeding a lot of your toddler is breastfeeding, or

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