Understand Sleep

Safe Sleep Basics

The foundation for every age under one.

• Place baby on their back for every sleep, naps and night.
• Use a firm, flat surface in a crib, cradle or bassinet that meets Canadian safety rules.
• Keep the sleep space bare — no pillows, bumpers, blankets or stuffed toys.
• Room-sharing (not bed-sharing) is recommended for at least the first 6 months.

How Much Sleep Is Typical?

Typical 24-hour ranges, including naps.

• 0–3 months: about 14–17 hours, spread across many short sleeps day and night.
• Every child is different — these are ranges, not targets to hit perfectly.

Regulation Before Sleep

A calm body comes before a sleepy body.

• Sleep follows regulation: children need help feeling safe and calm to let go into sleep.
• Notice your child's sensory needs — some calm with deep pressure, others with quiet and dim light.
• Your own calm presence is a powerful regulator (co-regulation).
• Big feelings at bedtime are a signal of need, not misbehaviour.

Bedtime Resistance at this Age

Why it happens and what can help.

• Toddlers are building independence — testing limits at bedtime is normal development.
• A predictable routine with the same steps in the same order lowers stalling.
• Offer small, real choices (which pyjamas, which book) to meet the need for control.
• Check for an overtired or under-tired bedtime; both can show up as resistance.

A Gentle, Gradual Approach

Supporting more independent settling.

• Start by sitting beside the crib or bed, offering calm reassurance.
• Every few nights, move your chair a little farther toward the door.
• Stay consistent with how you respond to wakings during each stage.
• Expect progress over roughly two weeks — gradual means a little at a time.

Building a Bedtime Routine

Short, predictable and the same every night.

• Aim for 20–30 minutes of the same calming steps.
• Finish the routine in the room where your child sleeps.
• Keep screens off in the hour before bed.
• Put your child down drowsy but awake to practise settling.

Fewer Night Wakings

Understanding why children wake and what helps.

• Everyone wakes briefly between sleep cycles; the goal is resettling, not never waking.
• If your child needs the same help to fall asleep at bedtime, they may need it overnight too.
• Respond in a consistent, low-key way — dim light, few words.
• Rule out illness, teething or hunger with your health care provider if wakings change suddenly.