Naps help babies learn and remember

cute baby, taking a nap, smiling in her sleep

Naps help babies learn and remember. In fact, babies may require timely naps to transfer new information and skills into long-term memory. Does this mean we should be forcing our babies to take lots of naps? No. But we should treat naps with respect…and realize that the last hour (or so) before sleep is prime time for learning.

Afraid of the dark: A troubleshooting guide

child, afraid of the dark, under covers in bed using flashlight to peer out at imagined ghosts

Is your child afraid of the dark? Is your child’s fear severe enough to be considered a phobia? Here’s what research tells us about the signs and causes…and how to help kids to overcome their fears.

Newborn sleep patterns: A survival guide

father feeding newborn at night while mother sleeps

If you learn about circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, you can make sense of your newborn sleep, and lay the groundwork for easier nights.

What’s normal? An evidence-based baby sleep chart

older infant sleeping in cot, arms outstretched

How long do babies sleep at night? How many naps do babies take during the day? And what about night wakings? This evidence-based baby sleep chart explains the typical range of variation for babies up to 24 months old.

Do kids grow out of insomnia?

young girl awake in bed at night, rubbing her eyes while looking at mobile phone screen

Insomnia might sound like an adult problem, but many kids experience insomnia symptoms, and new research suggests that most symptomatic children will continue to have trouble in their teen years or beyond. How do experts define insomnia? Who is at higher risk for developing symptoms? And what can we do to prevent lasting sleep problems? Here’s an overview of the evidence.

Poor sleep intensifies next-day stress for parents

tired mother working at laptop, eyes closed, rubbing head, with children in the background

Can a lack of sleep cause stress? Research confirms that we experience more stress the day after a poor night’s sleep. And the effects might be particularly noticeable for parents struggling to care for multiple children while holding down a job.