DeveloBaby Sleep

Exercises for babies and very young children from 4 weeks up to 2 years with motor restlessness or other sensory-seeking behavior that makes it hard to settle, give in to sleep, or stay asleep. You get a wide range of practical, regulating sensory exercises that are easy to fit into a busy daily routine, plus best-practice knowledge about baby sleep.

Online-program by Maria Schultz Appelt
Prioritized, simple exercises
Designed for busy families
Illustrated with pictures & videos
Instant & perpetual access
Secure payment with QuickPay

on Trustpilot

Available languages

349,00 DKK

(inclusive of all taxes, VAT and fees)

The same baby twice, asleep on the left and awake on the right, in a checked blanket. Exercises for baby motor restlessness.

Program description

Motor restlessness in babies is very often linked to the senses: all babies are born with a more or less immature ability to process sensory input. In some babies, sensory input registers so weakly that it is hard for them to feel their own body and so to find enough calm and regulation. The result is motor restlessness. Babies with immature sensory integration will therefore often try to get the sensory input their body needs on their own. We say the child is sensory seeking. In a very young child, this most often shows up as physical restlessness and an increased need to suck, be held close, or be rocked. That can make sleep a real challenge, at bedtime, at nap time, and at night.

One way to help your baby process the day’s impressions better is to offer enough sensory stimulation during awake time. When a baby’s need for sensory stimulation is met during the day, this can lessen that need when it is time to fall asleep and stay asleep.

The program is for babies and very young children from 4 weeks up to 2 years. It contains a wide range of practical, regulating sensory exercises for motor restlessness. The exercises are listed in order of priority, easy to fit into a busy daily routine, and illustrated with pictures and videos. You also get general knowledge about sleep hygiene and healthy baby sleep, plus a thorough overview of signs and what you can do if you suspect that something other than immature senses may also be behind increased crying and/or sleep difficulties.

This program is one of several in the Sleep & Sensory Integration category. Read about the differences here in the program overview. You’ll find answers to frequently asked questions below, and if you’re still unsure which program is the right one for your child, you’re very welcome to send an email to maria@develobaby.com.

The perfect exercise programme for our…
The perfect exercise programme for our 2 week old child. We experienced positive effects on our daughter. Better sleep already. Big thanks👶🏼🥰
Ingrid, Trustpilot
Game changer!
I purchased her Sleep program when my little one was a newborn and it was a game changer for us!! It helped us to figure out what my baby’s sensory needs are by looking at his requests are while he is falling to sleep (rocking, holding, sucking etc.) and respond to his needs during the day by providing extra sensory simulation. Not only I was able to understand him better but also support him more efficiently. He became a great sleeper right after I got this program. Thank you so much Maria!!
Basak, Trustpilot
Easy to follow courses with great content
I have recently bought the Tummy Time and Sleep programs and am really pleased with the content. I haven’t done the sleep one long enough to see a difference but the tummy time one has definitely helped with improving my baby’s neck strength and getting more tummy time in the day.
A lot of the exercises are different to the generic information you can find by googling so I feel they are worth the money.
Shellie, Trustpilot
Sleep program for babies
I bought the Sleep program for babies (Motorisk uro in Danish) two weeks ago and I can see our daughter’s sleep (and ours) improved a lot already! It’s such a simple principle and easy set of exercises – I am amazed how big impact it can have on our lives 😍 She still wakes up two or three times but it’s not a million times like before and she does not move so much during her sleep and when falling asleep.
The program is well written, clearly demonstrated, easy to understand, nicely explained and the little videos help a lot. I really like it’s not time demanding and can be done easily when you have 5 minutes here and there.
Petra, Trustpilot
Really like the sleep program!
Hi from germany 🙂 I recently bought the “develobaby sleep”-program and I really like it. Tought to give it a try because my baby shows the descripted signs. Even if I’m not able to do the full program ( because it is a lot, but you get help what to prioritize) it helped immediatly in our case! I’m also recognizing a different in the nights when I forget to exercise during the day.
I also love the instagram page and I like a lot, that there are so many helpfull tipps how to support your baby’s development. Thanks a lot for this great page! […]
Theresa, Trustpilot

Frequently asked questions about DeveloBaby Sleep

Motor restlessness is an umbrella term for when a child is sensory seeking. It means the child looks for sensory input and tries to stimulate their own senses in order to find calm. The most common signs are:

Lots of movement, a strong need to be rocked, and turning the head from side to side (the vestibular sense, also called the sense of balance).
A strong need for swaddling, the feeling of weight, movement, or being very close to mom or dad (the proprioceptive sense).
A strong need to suck on or fiddle with something (the tactile sense, also called the sense of touch).

Not at all! Many babies and children have it to some degree. Today we know that sensory stimulation can help a great many of them find more calm.

It varies from child to child, and there is no set age when motor restlessness stops. In many babies, the restlessness is linked to the senses and the nervous system still maturing. As a child gets better at processing sensory input on their own, the need to seek it out can become smaller. For some it fades while they’re still babies; for others it lasts longer. As a parent, you can support the senses by giving your child the sensory input they seek, such as movement, the feeling of weight and close contact, in a calm setting during the day and at bedtime. That is exactly what the exercises and advice in the programs are about.

Yes, definitely! Motor restlessness can be the reason a child can’t settle down when it’s time to sleep and so doesn’t fall asleep, both at nap time and at night. And poor sleep is poor sleep, whether it happens during the day or at night.

Yes, that’s common. I lovingly call these children “zapper kids.” They’re restless during the day but go out like a light at night.

It depends on how strong your child’s motor and communication skills are:

DeveloBaby Sleep is for babies from 4 weeks up to 2 years, with exercises you do on your baby, plus lots of advice on good sleep habits, also known as sleep hygiene.
Sensory Integration is for children over 2 and has the same exercises, adapted for older children, plus sensorimotor play activities that the child does on their own (guided by you).

Yes. DeveloBaby Sleep is for babies from 4 weeks to 2 years, so a baby who is 3 months, 6 months or 1 year old is right in that age range. If your child is over 2, Sensory Integration is made for children from 2 to about 12 years old.

I can never say for certain without seeing your baby myself. But as a starting point, the program is a good fit for a baby who wakes themselves up or keeps themselves awake because of motor restlessness. Sensory stimulation, that is, the exercises in the program, has a calming effect and can make it easier for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep. Always keep the usual suspects in mind, though: if hunger, teething, ear pain, tummy pain or silent reflux are also disturbing sleep, it’s naturally harder for your baby to sleep as usual. The exercises will still have a calming, positive effect on sleep, but in that case you can’t expect your baby to sleep as well as, say, without teething pain. Baby sleep is sometimes complex, so think of the exercises as one important tool in the toolbox.

That naturally depends on how much you already know about motor restlessness and sensory integration in children. First and foremost, I created the programs for parents. I deliberately wrote them in easy-to-digest language, because my audience is sleep-deprived parents who aren’t looking to read in-depth professional background on the subject. The whole idea behind my project is that you shouldn’t have to read lots of thick books to get the important knowledge you need to help your child. I’ve boiled it down so everyone can understand it. See also my terms and conditions for purchases.

Frequently asked questions about the exercise programs

You buy access to the program right here on the site. Once your payment has gone through, you’ll see an extra heading in the menu called “My Programs,” with links to all the programs you’ve bought access to. The whole thing takes less than 60 seconds.

No. You get online access to my programs here on the site, because the programs contain video clips, which of course can’t be played on paper or in a PDF. That’s also why there is no version you can download or have sent to you. You can actually print the programs you’ve bought from a computer, though, by pressing Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on macOS while you’re on the program page. The programs aren’t set up for printing, however, so they look much nicer and are easier to use directly on your phone, tablet or computer.

You have lifetime access. Once you’ve bought a program, you can always log in and use it again whenever you need it, without having to renew or pay for access.

No, that isn’t allowed. You buy access for yourself and the people who live in your household. If you buy as a grandparent, for example, you may of course share it with the person you bought it for. If you are the director of a daycare center, for example, and would like to buy one or more programs for your staff, just email me at maria@develobaby.com so we can work out an arrangement for multiple licenses. Read more in my Terms and Conditions.

As a rule, no. The exercise programs are digital products that you get access to right away, so the usual 14-day right of withdrawal doesn’t apply to them. If you bought the wrong program by mistake, or something else doesn’t fit your situation, just write to me at maria@develobaby.com. Then of course we’ll find a solution together. You can read more in my Terms and Conditions.

Unfortunately, I see this from time to time: the card issuer, that is, your bank, blocks the payment because it goes to Denmark, especially if you don’t usually shop in other countries or only do so rarely. In that case, there’s not much I can do. You can call your bank and ask them to authorize the payment manually. Or you can try one of the other payment methods at checkout, for example Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Yes, I’ve taken great care to explain every exercise in plain language so everyone can understand it. The exercises also come with pictures and videos where you can see them done with a real child.

As a rule, no. The exercises in my motor programs are ordinary strengthening exercises in the anatomically normal muscle pattern, and the exercises in my sleep and sensory programs are calm exercises that stimulate the senses. If your child gets tired or upset, take a break, and if you are unsure about your child’s health, talk to your healthcare provider or doctor.

No! In my exercise programs, I’ve put the exercises in order of priority. There are lots of exercises in each program, so in principle you could spend the whole day doing exercises if you enjoy it, but you can also choose to do, say, the top three or five, which are the most important ones, if you’re short on time. That way, the exercise programs are for everyone, no matter how much time and energy you have.

The exercises in my motor development programs are basically strength training, just like when you do exercises yourself to get stronger. They are designed so the child strengthens the muscles that matter at exactly the stage you bought the exercises for. That’s why they help make the child stronger on the way to the next milestone. Whether the child gets good-quality movement patterns at the next milestone with the exercises in the program naturally depends on how strong the muscles are to begin with, and on whether there are special circumstances that call for a more individually tailored approach. These could be, for example, congenital disabilities or neurological injuries. But helping your child toward a stronger body is never wasted effort.

Related programs

Note: when purchasing two or more programs, a 10% discount is automatically applied. ❤

Sensory Integration
Sensory integration exercises for kids from 2 years to around 12 years who are sensory seeking and need a lot of sensory stimulation, or who are sensory avoiding and easily overwhelmed by loud noises, touch, or clothing. The program contains a wide range of practical sensory-stimulating exercises, plus sensorimotor games and activities that are easy to do at home.
Back Arching and Flat Head
Tummy time and rolling exercises for babies from 4 weeks, with a special focus and important additions for back arching, a flat head and the skydiver position. The program contains simple best-practice exercises that strengthen the muscles your baby needs to lie comfortably on their tummy and to roll.
Belly Crawling
Exercises for belly crawling in babies who can roll from back to tummy but don’t yet move forward on their tummy. The program contains simple best-practice exercises that support your baby on the way to strong belly crawling using both sides of the body. The exercises strengthen the motor foundation for the next milestones and can be used both as playful everyday inspiration and in cases of motor delay.
Preferred Side and Flat Head
Tummy time and rolling exercises for babies from 4 weeks, with a special focus and important additions for a preferred side, a flat head on one side and a banana shape. The program contains simple best-practice exercises that strengthen the muscles your baby needs to lie comfortably on their tummy and to roll.
Asymmetrical Belly Crawling
Crawling exercises with a special focus and important additions for babies with asymmetrical belly crawling, meaning they belly crawl with only one leg and the opposite arm, while the other leg barely joins in. The program contains easy best-practice exercises that strengthen the weaker side and coordination, so the body can become more symmetrically strong on the way to crawling.
Tummy Time
Tummy time and rolling exercises for babies from 4 weeks, as playful everyday inspiration and in cases of mild motor delay. The program contains simple best-practice exercises that strengthen the muscles your baby needs to lie comfortably on their tummy and to roll.
Crawling on All Fours
Exercises for crawling on all fours for babies who belly crawl, either with ordinary cross-pattern belly crawling or with midline belly crawling. The program contains easy best-practice exercises that strengthen both sides of the body equally and support your baby on the way from belly crawling to crawling. The exercises can be used both as playful everyday inspiration and in cases of motor delay.
Tarzan Crawling and Bottom Scooting
Walking exercises with a special focus and substantial additions for children who crawl with one foot planted on the floor (Tarzan crawling) or get around sitting on their bottom (bottom scooting), and who don’t walk without support yet. The program contains easy best-practice exercises that strengthen both sides of the body and the rotation muscles, so the body can become more symmetrically strong on the way to steady walking.
Walking
Walking exercises for children who crawl on all fours, including children who already walk with support but don’t walk on their own yet. The program contains easy best-practice exercises that strengthen the body for strong, steady walking, and my best tips on how your child can find the courage to take those first steps without holding on. The exercises can be used both as playful everyday inspiration and in cases of motor delay.