Forming Amazing Sleep for Infants and Toddlers with Baby Hugs

Over 300 people joined Mommy Mundo for the first episode of Baby Hugs, a new event series sponsored by Huggies Philippines on the Mommy Mundo platform.  Centred on comfort, care, and embracing the motherhood journey, Baby Hugs celebrates and recognizes all types of parenting because it believes that we should all support and empower moms on their motherhood journey.  

For its first session: Forming Amazing Sleep Habits for Infants and Toddlers, Erin Junker, the founder of The Happy Sleep company gave a presentation on the best practices for putting infants and toddlers to sleep and how to get them to stay asleep. The Happy Sleep Company was founded on the belief that a well-rested family is a happier, healthier family. Erin, who holds a Master’s Degree in health communications and a Certificate in Infant & Toddler Sleep Consulting, has more than 10 years’ experience in the field of health communications. She and her team are committed to working with tired parents to help them help their little ones get the healthy rest they need – that means getting amazing, uninterrupted nighttime sleep, and taking proper, restful naps, all within a supportive and guided two-week program. 

The session, held on July 18, 2020, was filled with both moms and dads curious to learn about what to do and what not to do when teaching your infant and/or toddler to sleep. After an insightful and jam-packed presentation, moms and dads were allowed to ask all their clarifying questions. Key takeaways included:

• Uninterrupted sleep is the most healthy and restful kind of sleep, and EVERYONE in the family should have it.

• Daytime sleep is as important as nighttime sleep. DO NOT skip naps!

• Newborns need around 15-18 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Babies aged 4-12 months need about 14-15 hours of sleep per day. Toddlers 12 months and older need about 13-14 hours of sleep per day. Most children need 10-12 hours of sleep per night until the age of 10. 

• It is important not to create “sleep props” or items and activities or behaviours that the baby will rely on to sleep. These include, rocking your child to sleep, giving them a pacifier, having them sleep in your bed, and feeding your child to sleep. 

  • Ideally babies are put down in their cribs groggy but still awake, and they should fall asleep on their own, thereby able to put themselves back to sleep should they wake up.

  • Moms and dads should resist the urge to sleep with their baby or have their baby sleep with them because this can become a sleep prop.

• It is best to create a restful sleep environment that is dark and with no distractions. It should also be quiet, and if this isn’t possible, a sound machine may be employed.

• Form a bedtime routine with your baby. It can include a bathtime and books. Following this same routine often will help create prompts for your child that it is time for sleep.

Many moms marvel at sleep training and how it can really help make life easier. As the Baby Hugs event taught, there is no reason why anyone in the family should lack sleep!

Apart from Infant & Toddler Sleep, The Happy Sleep Company also offers services in Toddler / Preschool Sleep, and Twins / Multiples Sleep. Each program with The Happy Sleep company takes 14 days, where Erin and her team guide parents throughout the journey to better longer sleep!

Baby Hugs has more in store. Upcoming events include How to Cope with the 4th Trimester, Speech Development, Sensory Stimulation, Meal Planning for Picky Eaters, and Age Appropriate Activities for Toddlers! Huggies is inviting all moms to register to the Huggies Club by registering here. Stay tuned to Mommy Mundo’s social media pages, @mommymundo on both Facebook and Instagram, and the Huggies Philippines social media pages, HuggiesPH on Facebook.