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Your child's sleeping habits (or lack thereof) are up to you

Published on: December 30, 2013

While babies are great and all when they're awake, there is something really really awesome about them sound asleep. Even better if it comes easily and without hours of fussing and eye rubbing.

A new study released today by Valérie Simard of Hôpital de Sacré-Coeur in Montréal, points the finger at/pats the backs of parents. Surprised? I didn't think so.

After looking at almost 1,000 families researchers found that habits such as staying with your child until they fell asleep, getting them water or a snack, and moving them from their bed into yours all created sleeping problems as they got older. You only need to catch an episode or two of SuperNanny to see how this plays out.

The (old) new news is that setting gentle and age appropriate boundaries for sleep from infancy on sets them up for healthy sleeping habits as they get older. Which also means more sleep for you and less nighttime stress. Win, win.

Here are some links for further reading:

MedPage Today

and

Time Magazine

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