Sleep Stages

21 December 2010

What are the stages of sleep?

While sleeping, both adults and children pass through 4 stages and REM (Rapid Eye Movement)—in repeating cycles throughout the night.

The ABC's of catching zzzz's

What’s the best way to help your child develop good sleep habits? There are many expert views about what role parents should play when it comes to helping their children develop good sleep habits. Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you like an approach that:

• is lenient about responding to your baby when he cries during the night and emphasizes consistent bedtime routines and positive sleep associations, check out Dr. Jodi Mindell’s book, Sleeping  Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep.
• advocates sticking firmly to routine and letting your child cry at bedtime for extended intervals of time before you provide her with comfort, read Dr. Richard Ferber’s book, Solve Your Child’s Sleep.
• focuses on training your baby to go to sleep and comfort himself on his own by keeping nighttime feedings short, waking him if his daytime naps last more than a few hours and using your voice or a gentle pat to comfort him when he cries, try the American Academy of Pediatrics’ book, Guide to Your Child’s Sleep Problems.
• promotes the family bed and other ways of being there for your child to provide a comforting, relaxing sleep environment, look at Dr. William Sears’ book, Nighttime Parenting.
• emphasizes the prevention of sleep problems and teaches healthy sleep habits by synchronizing soothing techniques with your  child’s natural rhythms, read Dr. Marc Weissbluth’s book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

AND REMEMBER, whichever approach you choose, be consistent.