Miriam Stoppard: Let babies sleep as much as they want
12/10/2011
Parents should let their toddlers get as much sleep on their mattresses as they need rather than trying to set a routine too early, a respected doctor and agony aunt has recommended.
Writing in the Daily Mirror, Dr Miriam Stoppard said she believes the sleep of a still-growing child should not be disturbed, and denying sleep can lead to a lot of noisy whining, tantrums and crying.
This is because toddlers experience the "sleep pressure" that we all feel more keenly, she explained, possibly because the intense growing activity in the minds of young children.
"It also explains why, even after a nap in the morning and a nap in the afternoon, a child is ready for bed at night and can sleep for up to 12 hours," Dr Stoppard went on to say.
The advice comes soon after parents in Australia were advised by the government to avoid sleeping in the same beds as their little ones for safety reasons.
Posted by Michael Ewing
