by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
The arrival of a new baby is supposed to be one of the happiest and most joyful experiences of our lives. Yes, it is exhausting, yes, it is rollercoaster of emotion, but by and large we’re brought up to believe that despite the pain, the tears and the frustration, having a baby is supposed to make us feel good. But what if it doesn’t?
by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
Many studies have shown that sleep is important for learning and memory in adults1 - 5. During sleep, new experiences acquired during the day are integrated into our memory, providing valuable new knowledge to help us to navigate our ever-changing lives. But is the same true for babies? Could taking a nap enhance your baby’s memory, even helping them to learn?
by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
Night terrors. As if the phrase itself isn’t scary enough, the reality of dealing with a night terror can be frightening. Imagine you wake to a blood-curdling scream, your child thrashing around in the sheets; sweaty, pulse racing, glassy-eyed. Nothing you say or do can get through to them. That’s what it’s like to face a night terror, which affect approximately 5% of children in the Westernised world. But what are night terrors? What causes them and is there any way to stop them?
by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
There’s no denying it, we live a fast-paced life. There’s everything from instant meals to instant tan and even instant drugs. We expect results, stat. So when it comes to falling asleep, it’s no wonder that a little tossing and turning has a lot of Australians reaching for a quick fix. One of the most popular sleeping drugs for adults is melatonin, and an increasing number of parents are also giving it to their children. But do we really know what we’re doing? And is it safe?
by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
The thought of babies dreaming is irresistibly cute. Where might their little brains take them at night? Perhaps flying over gushing waterfalls of sweet milk, or clambering over soft, warm skin that smells like Mummy. All that activity – the twitching, the eye movement, the sighs and exclamations – suggests something is going on. But can babies really dream the same way we do? And if they do dream, what are they seeing?
by Dr Caroline Hendry (PhD Developmental Biology)
There are quite a few studies that report a link between screen watching and subsequent sleep patterns in children and teens2,3,4,5. The consistent conclusion from these studies is that watching a screen prior to sleep, whether it be TV, computer or any other type of screen can be bad for sleep. It may mean that the amount of sleep is less, and/or it might take longer to fall asleep. Importantly, if this occurs often enough, it may lead to increasing feelings up tiredness for months, or even years.
