When we think about baby sleep, we often focus on schedules, wake windows, and bedtime routines. All of that matters, but there is something deeper that rarely gets explained, your baby’s nervous system and their ability to regulate what they feel inside their body. This is what we call sensory regulation.

If your baby becomes overwhelmed easily, cries suddenly, takes a long time to settle, or seems unable to relax before sleep, sensory regulation may be playing a very important role. Understanding this is not about blaming yourself, it is about giving you a clearer map so you can support your baby with more confidence.

What Sensory Regulation Means in Babies

From the moment they are born, babies receive constant information through their senses, light, sound, touch, movement, temperature, hunger, and contact. Their nervous system has to process all of this and decide whether it feels safe, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed.

When the body and environment feel safe, sleep unfolds with more ease

About Mariana Yancik

I am Mariana Yancik, a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Newborn Care Specialist and Postpartum Doula. For more than a decade, I have supported families who want calmer days, deeper connection, and better rest.