1year Old Baby Development

Though a baby is beginning to develop in so many positive ways, certain sleep problems may start to crop up as the child approaches the first birthday. These problems are often due to baby's increased awareness of his or her "separateness" from her mom. Stranger anxiety and separation anxiety are two normal stages of development that typically occur during this time, and they can get in the way of much-needed nighttime sleep for mom and the baby.

This may mean tears and tantrums when a mom try to leave a child in the crib at night - and more sleep interruption when the baby wakes up and looks around for some sign that someone is near. This is also the age when night terrors can appear. These can be more "terrifying" for the parent than the baby if you are not sure what is happening.

It can be difficult to respond to 8- to 12-month-old's nighttime needs with the right balance of concern and consistency, but remember: This is the time to set the stage for future restful nights for the whole family. The important thing now is to try to keep the sleep experience a positive one for the baby and to be consistent with the response to wakefulness at night.