RX For Baby Sleep

Himani Dalmia, author, certified baby and toddler sleep specialist, and co-founder of peer support group Gentle Baby Sleep India, has revolutionised the concept of baby sleep in India. The scion of Dalmia Group discusses the art and science of sleep.

- Benaifer J Mirza

Did you know that children in India are the secondmost sleep deprived in the world? This sleep loss begins in infancy itself. Children, especially below five years of age, are not simply miniature adults when it comes to sleep. Their sleep structure is completely different. What starts out as waking up frequently at night during their infancy and toddlerhood years, develops into tired schoolchildren who need to be woken up with difficulty in the morning, and are thus not at their full capacity while learning or playing through the day, often overlapping with attention deficit or learning or behavioural disorders.

All of this stems from the core issue of both parents, and society, at large; being unaware of sleep patterns in children. Understanding that sleep patterns and concepts can transform a family’s sleep journey and lay one of the building blocks for a child’s lifelong physical and mental health, Himani Dalmia decided to delve deeper into these areas, to make life simpler for both babies and their parents.

The beginning of a journey 

Himani Dalmia, daughter of VN Dalmia and scion of Dalmia Group, was born and raised in a joint family in New Delhi. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Honours from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, and a Master’s in South Asian Literature from the University of Oxford.