Psychomotor Therapist (PMT), Sleep Specialist and Parenting Guidance–in Amsterdam or Remotely

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For tired parents seeking more gentleness, less guilt, and a little more sleep…

Baby Sleep

Understand, Soothe, Support with the 1001 Dodos® Approach

A Vital Need, a Delicate Journey

Baby sleep is not a straight line. It evolves over weeks and months, through teething phases and emotional storms. What people call “sleeping through the night” is neither automatic nor always quick.

Yet, in our fast-paced society, expectations run high. From as early as three months, parents are asked, “So, is the baby sleeping through the night?” As if a baby should already be autonomous in sleep, when they are just beginning to discover the world.

The 1001 Dodos® approach, inspired by the principles of gentle parenting, attachment theory, and affective neuroscience, invites us to rethink sleep as a relational learning process rather than a performance.

The 1001 Dodos® Approach: Key Principles

1. Sleep is Emotional Security

The baby learns to sleep safely through the consistency, presence, and gentleness of their attachment figures. Crying is not a tantrum but a call for regulation.

2. Every child has their own rhythm

There is no absolute standard. Some babies sleep for 12 hours straight by 4 months, while others need support until they are 2 years old. What matters is to listen, observe, and adjust.

3. Harsh methods are avoided

“Letting the baby cry it out” without support goes against the building of a secure attachment. The 1001 Dodos® approach offers gradual and respectful tools that honor the child’s pace.

From 0 to 3 months: The 4th trimester, cocooning

The baby does not yet distinguish between day and night.
They have an intense need for closeness, especially at night.

TIPS

→ Practice safe co-sleeping (link to the safe co-sleeping article) or room-sharing.

→Avoid emergency co-sleeping, especially when exhausted on the couch or in the nursing chair.

→ Accept some degree of disruption.

→ Establish a calming mini-routine (soft voice, touch, rocking).

→ Build a support network.

→Expose your baby to natural daylight to help regulate the day/night rhythm.

From 4 to 8 months: First rhythms

Sleep begins to take shape: 2–3 naps, longer nights.
Falling asleep becomes a full-fledged ritual.

TIPS

→ Establish a consistent bedtime routine. The brain dislikes unpredictability.

→ Support falling asleep gently (reassuring presence, comfort object ritual—but not essential).

→ If frequent awakenings occur, observe if they are linked to associations (need to be rocked, fed, etc.).

→ Take advantage of calm phases to rest and recharge before encountering a regression phase.

From 9 to 24 months: Emotional learning

Baby better understands routines, but their brain is still very emotional.
Wake-ups may be due to nightmares or fear of separation…

TIPS

→ Use simple words to name emotions: “You’re sad, I’m here.”

→ Adopt comforting bedtime rituals: a little song, a story, a nightlight. These rituals should work for both the child and the parent. Mom and Dad can have their own little differences in their routines—everyone has their style!

→ Don’t hesitate to join the child if they wake up and need reassurance.

And what about the parents in all of this?

Being tired doesn’t mean you’re incompetent.
You’re doing your best, and that’s already a lot.

The 1001 Dodos® approach doesn’t aim to make parents feel guilty but to equip them with practical tools and deep kindness.

Some Tools Inspired by 1001 Dodos®

→ The sleep diary: note bedtime, awakenings, and naps.

→ Sleep windows: identify the best times to put the baby down (signs of tiredness).

→ Gentle transitions: reduce stimulation before bedtime (bath, dimmed lights, etc.).

→ Reassuring presence: a gentle hand, a soft voice, rather than sudden withdrawal.

We don’t ‘train’ a baby- we support them

Sleep cannot be imposed. It is built, day by day, through safety, trust, and connection.
With 1001 Dodos®, every step counts.
And even broken nights can feel lighter… when you are well supported.