Whether they are at home or in a travel cot, many babies can have trouble with sleeping.

This has been a hot topic recently, with new research by Dr Penelope Leach suggesting that leaving tots to cry can be damaging to their health.

Her book The Essential First Year - What Babies Need Parents to Know claims that leaving tots to wail for more than 30 minutes can be toxic to their brains.

Reviewing these claims, the Guardian's parenting columnist Viv Groskop said the key for many parents is to find a balance between controlled crying and soothing on demand.

She said that those who tend to their baby every time they cry could risk raising a baby with newborn-tendencies "for an entire year" or longer.

Meanwhile, becoming aggressive or irritable when babies cry for no apparent reason is a complete no-no.

Ms Groskop concluded: "The real problem is long-term unresponsive parenting. If you can assure yourself you're not guilty of that, you're doing the best you can in the circumstances."

Earlier this year, Boston.com columnist Barbara F Meltz recommended that keeping sleep conditions consistent can help tots to get regular shut-eye.

Posted by Michael StevensonADNFCR-3005-ID-19745973-ADNFCR