Sleep is very important for the development of infants and young children. A good night's sleep will have positive effects on the overall development of children.

Newborns often twist, stretch and startle in their sleep during the first months of life. This is a completely normal physiological phenomenon. It usually only happens for a few seconds and then stops immediately, so parents should not worry too much.

How old should babies start sleeping alone? While the latest safe sleep guidelines suggest parents should room-share with their babies until they are at least 6 months old, new research suggests that may not be the best thing for either the baby or the rest of the family.

Sleep disorders involve problems with the quality, duration, and quantity of sleep, leading to daytime stress and impaired functioning. This article is a visual guide to sleep disorders and their treatments.