Baby and Children Sleep 

 http://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/basics/age-by-age-guide/

Newborn-2 Month Sleep Tips

• Newborns sleep in 2- to 4-hour intervals, waking up to eat.
• Babies this age tend to stir and look restless during sleep. Because of reflexes they can't control, it's common to see them twitch their arms and legs, smile and make sucking noises.
• Newborns aren't born knowing how to soothe themselves to sleep, so you may need to help, with tricks like using a pacifier, swaddling, rocking and breastfeeding. Remember, there's no such thing as spoiling a newborn, so it's OK to cuddle baby to help her doze off.

2-4 Month Sleep Tips

• Babies this age may sleep for six-hour stretches at night, and settle into more of a set nap schedule now.
• To get baby on a good sleep routine, make sure to play and expose her to lots of sunlight during the day and avoid over-stimulating her when it's dark out.
• Starting a pre-bedtime sleep routine -- like bath, feeding, story time -- can help ready baby to sleep through the night for longer stretches.

4-6 Month Sleep Tips

• Babies this age will start to quit nighttime feedings, and are usually ready to sleep through the night now, anywhere from six- to 12-hour stretches.
• Research shows about 60 percent of babies sleep through by 6 months, up to 80 percent do so by 9 months.
• Remember, all babies wake up sometimes during the night, but those who "sleep through" have learned how to nod off on their own.

For more on sleep-training your baby, read this  >>

 

6-12 Month Sleep Tips

• Some babies stop sleeping through the night now because of separation anxiety. Your baby knows you're around even when she can't see you, and may get upset when she wakes up.
• It's OK to go in and check on your crying baby, but keep visits short and try (as hard as it is) not to pick her up or feed her. Try rubbing her back, singing a soothing lullaby and ducking out after a few minutes.

1-2 Year Sleep Tips

• Active toddlers can have trouble relaxing and winding down at night -- causing bedtime battles. Try to keep things as calm as possible in the evenings, sticking to soothing activities like bath and story time.
• Once baby learns to climb out of the crib, she may attempt to snuggle in bed with you. This is a hard-to-break habit, so if you don't want to start a co-sleeping situation, bring her back to her own room.

2-5 Year Sleep Tips

• Toddler and preschooler sleep problems include procrastinating and resisting bedtime, getting out of their big-kid beds when they wake at night, and developing night fears.
• Stick to a bedtime routine and sleep schedule, make sure your kids understand the rules and be consistent about enforcing them.
• Using a nightlight or lovey can comfort kids who tend to get scared of the dark or have nightmares.

5-12 Year Sleep Tips

• Homework, a jam-packed social schedule and computer and TV time tend to push back bedtime.
• Cutting back on soda or other caffeine-packed drinks, as well as reducing TV-watching right before bed can help.
• Children with sleep-friendly bedrooms -- dark, cool and quiet, with no TV or computer -- tend to sleep better than those with lots of distractions.

Sources: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University; National Sleep Foundation, Baby 411 and Toddler 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown, MD
Copyright © 2008 Meredith Corporation.

Childhood physical and sexual abuse may increase risk of early or late onset menarche

Childhood physical and sexual abuse may increase risk of early or late onset menarche

Published on July 28, 2012 Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found an association between childhood physical and sexual abuse and age at menarche. The findings are published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Researchers led by corresponding author, Ren-e Boynton-Jarrett, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at BUSM, found a 49 percent increase in risk for early onset menarche (menstrual periods prior to age 11 years) among women who reported childhood sexual abuse compared to those who were not abused. In addition, there was a 50 percent increase in risk for late onset menarche (menstrual periods after age 15 years) among women who reported severe physical abuse in childhood. The participants in the study included 68,505 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II, a prospective cohort study.

"In our study child abuse was associated with both accelerated and delayed age at menarche and importantly, these associations vary by type of abuse, which suggest that child abuse does not have a homogenous effect on health outcomes," said Boynton-Jarrett. "There is a need for future research to explore characteristics of child abuse that may influence health outcomes including type, timing and severity of abuse, as well as the social context in which the abuse occurs."

Child abuse is associated with a significant health burden over the life course. Early menarche has been associated with risks such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, cancer and depression, while late menarche has been associated with lower bone mineral density and depression. "We need to work toward better understanding how child abuse influences health and translate these research findings into clinical practice and public health strategies to improve the well-being of survivors of child abuse," added Boynton-Jarrett.

Source: Boston University Medical Center http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120728/Childhood-physical-and-sexual-abuse-may-increase-risk-of-early-or-late-onset-menarche.aspx