Posts — 18 months old

By: Erin Junker, Pediatric Sleep Consultant   It’s the end of the day, Mom is exhausted, and baby seems fussy too. Why bother with a bedtime routine? Wouldn’t it be easier to just feed your little one and put her straight to bed? Why all the steps and the elaborate routine?  Here’s why: A bedtime routine, carried out with similar steps in a similar way each night, signals to your baby that we are transitioning from daytime (i.e. napping), to nighttime (i.e. the big, long sleep). It helps your baby understand that sleep-time is approaching, and gets her body ready to wind down and prepare for sleep.   Here are some suggested steps to a great bedtime routine, one that...

Photo: @freestylemama   Brain Development—The Second Year The first three years of life are a critical time for brain development, but sometimes we as parents can be at a loss as to how to help and challenge our little ones as they grow. Once your little one turns a year old, he is walking—or close to it. This opens up his world as he is able to get around on his own and test the boundaries of his life. Below we are sharing some ways that you can assist in your little one’s development during the second year (12-24 months). 12-18 Months On top of becoming more mobile, your little one is also learning how to communicate his wants and...