Toddler sleep realities - Learning to sleep like learning to walk

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Why your baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet … and how to teach them

Popular science communication: Evelyne Touchette, Ph.D and Catherine Lord, Ph.D.

Published: July 13, 2021, 15:59 CEST

Published on : 21 December 2022

In this article, Evelyne presents the following sleep realities and discusses methods for acquiring sleep.

Three sleep realities

1- Sleep is a pillar of health, just like healthy eating and exercise.

2- Sleep development is unique to each child, just like walking.

3- Falling asleep on their own becomes possible with the support of parents, one step at a time. Learning to fall asleep on their own at the beginning of the night is an important key for children to be able to move from one train to another independently, without reporting their night awakenings to their parents.

Inspiration and scientific sources:

Dubois-Comtois, K., Pennestri, M. H., Bernier, A., Cyr, C., & Godbout, R. (2019). Family environment and preschoolers’ sleep: the complementary role of both parents. Sleep medicine, 58, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.002
Field T. (2017). Infant sleep problems and interventions: A review. Infant behavior & development, 47, 40–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.02.002
- - Literature review on the different methods.
INSPQ -Guide mieux vivre avec son enfant. Dormir en sécurité: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/mieux-vivre/bebe/sommeil/dormir-en-securite
Medic, G., Wille, M., & Hemels, M. E. (2017). Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nature and science of sleep, 9, 151–161. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S134864
Paavonen, E. J., Saarenpää-Heikkilä, O., Morales-Munoz, I., Virta, M., Häkälä, N., Pölkki, P., Kylliäinen, A., Karlsson, H., Paunio, T., & Karlsson, L. (2020). Normal sleep development in infants: findings from two large birth cohorts. Sleep medicine, 69, 145–154. https://doi.org/10.1016
Sadeh, A, et Anders, TF (1993) Infant sleep problems: Origins, assessment, interventions. Infant Mental Health Journal, 14 (1),17-34. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0355(199321)14:1<17::AID-IMHJ2280140103>3.0.CO;2-Q

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“Learning to sleep like learning to walk” is an online resource that offers reliable information validated by scientists and specialists in sleep, health and child development.

Warning. “Learning to sleep like learning to walk” is not medical assistance and cannot replace the advice of a legally authorized health specialist. Only health specialists are qualified to provide medical advice, regardless of your or your child’s condition after a thorough examination and with personalized care.

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