Describe the situation before choosing a label
Write down what happened and the setting rather than starting with an explanation. A difficult feed, a goodbye and a toddler's frustration lead to different reading paths.
The Cocoon guide library
Behaviour
Understanding the big feelings — crying and colic, the witching hour, tantrums, separation anxiety and screen time. Behaviour is communication, especially before words.
Keep informal labels in perspective
A phrase such as 'developmental leap' cannot tell you why a child is upset. If you notice new skills, keep those observations separate from assumptions about crying or sleep. Make room for the caregiver's needs too.
Toddler moments
Big changes and big feelings often arrive together in the toddler years. Start with the situation in front of you.
All behaviour guides
SleepDevelopment
18-month sleep regression: bedtime battles, teeth and what helps
Why toddler sleep often gets bumpy around 18 months, from independence and separation to canine teeth and the one-nap switch, and how to hold bedtime limits kindly.
SleepBehavior
2-year sleep regression: fears, big changes and bedtime limits
Why sleep often wobbles around age 2, from fears and nightmares to a new sibling, toilet learning, a new bed and nap changes, and how to set kind bedtime limits.
SleepBehavior
Baby night waking: what's normal by age and how to respond
How often babies and toddlers wake at night by age, the common causes, a calm night-waking routine, when to feed or resettle, and when waking needs a doctor.
BottleBehavior
Baby refusing the bottle: causes, what to try and when to worry
Why babies refuse bottles, practical things to try (who offers, position, teat, temperature, timing), alternatives to a bottle and the signs that need urgent help.
SleepRoutines
Bedtime fading: a gentle method for long, difficult bedtimes
How bedtime fading works for babies and toddlers who take ages to fall asleep, with steps, a worked example, the research and how it compares with other methods.
SleepBehavior
Chair method and camping out: a gradual retreat sleep plan
How the chair method, camping out and parental presence work, with a step-by-step plan across nights, how long it takes, naps, pros and cons.
SoothingBehavior
Colic and PURPLE crying: what's normal and how to cope
What colic and the Period of PURPLE Crying are, when crying peaks and eases, a coping plan, remedies that don't help, and red flags that need urgent care.
SleepBehavior
Cry it out (extinction): how it works, ages and the evidence
What the cry-it-out (extinction) sleep method involves, the ages sources discuss, how it differs from controlled comforting and what research has found.
SleepBehavior
Ferber method and controlled comforting: how check-and-console works
How the Ferber method, controlled comforting and controlled crying work, with the age to start, step-by-step checks, example intervals and when to stop.
SolidsBehavior
Fussy eating in toddlers: why it happens and what helps
Why toddlers become picky eaters, calm strategies that help, what to avoid, an example day of meals and snacks, and when fussy eating needs a doctor.
SleepBehavior
Night terrors vs nightmares in toddlers: how to tell and what to do
How to tell night terrors from nightmares, what to do for each, sleepwalking safety, common triggers, typical ages and when to see a doctor.
SleepSoothing
Pick up, put down method: steps, ages and does it work?
How the pick-up-put-down settling method works, where it comes from, the ages it's used at, step-by-step instructions and what the evidence does and doesn't show.
BehaviorRoutines
Preparing your toddler for a new baby: before, during and after
How to prepare a toddler for a new sibling, handle the first meeting and first weeks, cope with jealousy and regression, and keep both children safe.
SleepSoothing
Responsive settling by age: gentle ways to help your baby sleep
How responsive settling works from newborn to toddler, from settling in arms to hands-on and comfort settling, and how it differs from sleep training.
BehaviorDevelopment
Screen time for babies and toddlers: guidelines by age
What the WHO, AAP and Australian guidance say about screens from birth to 5, plus video calls, co-viewing, background TV, sleep and a simple family plan.
BehaviorDevelopment
Separation anxiety in babies and toddlers: ages, drop-off and sleep
When separation anxiety starts and peaks, what it looks like, how to handle goodbyes, bedtime and childcare, and when it's more than a normal stage.
SleepSafe Sleep
Siblings sharing a room: when it's safe and how to make it work
When a baby can share a bedroom with an older sibling, the safe-sleep rules, bunk bed ages, staggered bedtimes and what to do when one child wakes the other.
SleepBehavior
Sleep training methods compared: ages, crying and evidence
Compare every popular baby sleep and settling method side by side, with the ages sources give, how much crying each plans for, and what research shows.
BehaviorRoutines
Starting childcare or daycare: settling in, illness and vaccines
How to choose care, settle your child in, handle drop-offs, cope with the first year of bugs, and check illness, vaccination, feeding and safe sleep rules.
SoothingBehavior
The 5 S's for soothing a baby: how to do each step safely
How to use Dr Harvey Karp's 5 S's (swaddle, side hold, shush, swing, suck) to calm a crying baby, with the safety rules for each step.
SleepBehavior
Toddler bedtime stalling: curtain calls, limits and what helps
Why toddlers stall at bedtime and keep getting out of bed, and calm ways to handle it, from routines and picture charts to bedtime passes and fears.
Behavior
Toddler defiance: saying no, whining and testing limits
Why toddlers say "no", whine and test limits from about 18 months, and what helps, from choices and praise to time-in, time-out and when to get help.
Behavior
Toddler hitting and biting: why it happens and what to do
Why toddlers hit, bite and push, what to do in the moment, how to teach other ways, biting at childcare, caring for a bite and when to get help.
SleepBehavior
Toddler sleep from 18 months to 3: bedtime battles and night waking
How much sleep toddlers need, an example day, and calm ways to handle bedtime stalling, night waking, nightmares, night terrors and climbing out of the cot.
BehaviorDevelopment
Toddler tantrums: why they happen, what to do and when to worry
Why tantrums happen, what to do during one, how to prevent them, biting and hitting, breath-holding spells, and when to get help.
SoothingBehavior
Why is my baby crying? A calm checklist and soothing ideas
Why babies cry, a step-by-step checklist, soothing techniques that help, how much crying is normal, which cries need urgent help, and coping when it's too much.
Key terms
Explore more topics
Baby sleepBaby healthStarting solidsDaily routinesBreastfeedingDevelopment & milestonesSafe sleepSoothing & cryingBottle feedingWhen baby is unwellPostpartum recoveryPregnancy & birthTravel & outingsGrowth & percentilesWeaningPumping & milk supplyDiapers & nappiesParent mental healthTeethingAll guides
Track it in Cocoon
The whole day, gently tracked — and these guides in your pocket
Offline-first, and every feature free right now. Log feeds, sleep and nappies in seconds, and keep the memories too.