Teaching your baby healthy sleeping habits is the earliest and most essential thing that new parents can do to help their children grow up to be healthy and successful adults, says Dr. Daniel Golshevsky.
Those habits, known as “sleep hygiene,” help babies get the deep and consistent sleep they need for healthy physical, mental and emotional development, says Golshevsky, a Melbourne, Australia-based pediatrician and bestselling author of “Your Baby Doesn’t Come With a Book.”
“You can change your sleep habits at any age,” says Golshevsky, who goes by “Dr. Golly” on social media. “But, without question, the easiest time to change sleep habits is to ... set up the foundation from the newborn [stage]. That’s where sleep hygiene and preparation becomes key.”
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Healthy sleep habits are linked to babies’ cognitive development and mental health and older kids’ ability to learn, concentrate and regulate their emotions — helping them develop the resilience they’ll need to eventually navigate life’s ups and downs as adults.
