Most new parents have the expectation that within weeks to months of the birth of their new baby the infant will be sleeping soundly through the night and that peace will rein.

For many families however this expectation is soon shattered. Sleep problems are exceedingly common through the first few years of life. In fact, most infants do not establish predominantly nocturnal sleeping patters until three months of age, and it is not until six months of age that the majority are sleeping through the night.

About one third of all Australian infants and toddlers continue to wake at least once each night, while over half of toddlers and preschoolers resist going to bed.