Frequent waking plays an important role in maintaining a lighter stage of sleep. Newborn sleep cycles are very different from an adult's, and these lighter periods of sleep help babies wake to feed, respond to their environment, and keep important functions such as breathing, temperature regulation, and heart rate working effectively as their systems continue to mature. This is not “bad behaviour,” manipulation, or poor sleep habits. It is biology.

From the moment a baby is born, touch becomes a profound way they connect with their caregivers. A warm snuggle, or a gentle stroke of a...