Sleep Wellness- How important it is for the mental and emotional growth of the child?
Sleep Wellness- How important it is for the mental and emotional growth of the child?
From the day I became a mom, I was bombarded with advice about various aspects of parenting. The one thing that people seemed to stress the most was ensuring that the little one followed a good sleep schedule. Even though I was aware of the importance of getting enough sleep, I became anxious about how not getting enough sleep would affect my baby.
My anxiety grew even more when my baby’s sleep pattern started interfering with my own sleep schedule. In the first few weeks, he spent most of his time sleeping, but after a month or so, his periods of wakefulness started to increase gradually. Sadly, these periods of wakefulness occurred not only during the daytime but also at night. So, I decided to do some research on the topic, and here is what I learned.
Babies Have A Different Sleep Schedule
The first important thing that I learned about babies’ sleep schedule is that it is significantly different from the one that we follow as adults. While adults need to sleep at least 6-7 hours every day to stay fit and healthy, babies need to sleep for significantly longer times. In fact, most newborn babies need to sleep for at least 16-20 hours a day for the first four weeks of their life. The sleep duration gradually reduces to 14-17 hours a day as the babies grow older and settles at 12-14 hours a day for toddlers who are more than 1 year old.
These sleep duration is spread across 24 hours with interruptions for feeding and other activities. Another interesting fact that I learned was that while babies between the ages of 3-12 months need 8-9 hours of sleep every night, toddlers above I year, require 10 hours of sleep each night. Unfortunately, my son slept for no more than 12 hours every day, including his daytime naps and this worried me.
Why Is Sleep Important For Wellness of Babies?
The above information naturally led me to wonder why babies need to sleep so much. I came to know that babies need to sleep more as their bodies are growing and developing rapidly during the first few months after they are born. These development leaps are also referred to as growth spurts and are related to the various changes happening in the body and brain of the babies. These changes cause much exertion to the little ones and hence they need more rest.
Premature babies, i.e. babies born before time, require even more sleep than babies who are delivered after the completion of full tenure. The good news is that once babies reach the age of three months, their sleep cycle becomes more regular. Babies of this age tend to nap 3-4 times a day and the duration of their nighttime sleep also increases.
However, some babies, including my son, do not adapt to the regular sleep pattern naturally even after passing the age of three months. In such cases, we as parents need to set the right routine to ensure that the babies get enough sleep.
What Happens When Babies Don’t Get Enough Sleep?
I can tell you firsthand that babies not getting enough sleep is not good for them or us as parents. As I mentioned before, babies experience rapid growth spurts, and most of these spurts occur while the babies are sleeping. So for one, lack of enough and proper sleep can impact their growth and development. Even though these impacts may not be immediately evident, they can be the most serious. Babies may suffer from issues like low immunity, slow physical growth, and development, poor brain development leading to lack of cognition and concentration, low memory, and other such problems.
Apart from the above issues, other problems resulting from babies not getting enough or proper sleep include loss of appetite or even constipation. Some babies may become extremely cranky and cry all the time or may exhibit symptoms of excessive fatigue. Some parents may also experience sudden weight gain or an increase in the moodiness of their babies caused mainly due to lack of sleep. I was experiencing many of these changes in my son and was aware of the fact that I needed to correct his sleep schedule before things got out of hand.
Understanding The Sleep Cycle Of Babies
Before I could correct the sleep schedule for my son, I first needed to gain a thorough understanding of the term sleep cycle. The sleep cycle for babies is the pattern of sleep and wakefulness they follow over 24 hours. A baby’s sleep cycle is generally shorter than the sleep cycle of an adult and this is partly because they have a smaller stomach. So when babies fall asleep after being fed, they wake up only after a short time as they start feeling hungry and need to be fed again.
Another interesting fact that I learned was that the sleep cycle of babies generally comprises four stages which include the following.
Stage One: In this stage, the babies start feeling drowsy and tend to gently drift off to sleep.
Stage Two: This stage is often referred to as REM sleep or active sleep phase. In this stage, the babies often make rapid eye movements, tend to move their mouth, arms, legs, and fingers slightly, and their breathing also increases.
Stage Three: This is the NREM stage or the light sleep phase where the babies become less active and their bodies become more relaxed.
Stage Four: This stage of the sleep cycle of babies is also known as deep non-REM sleep or quiet sleep. In this stage, the babies drift into a deep slumber, and waking them up is somewhat difficult. As the babies grow older, they start experiencing dreams in this stage.
Tips For Correcting The Sleep Schedule Of Babies
All this information helped me realize that my son was not following the right sleep schedule like other babies of his age. So I needed to rectify his schedule to avoid any negative impacts on his health and ensure his proper growth and development. Some effective tips I followed for the same include the following.
Study The Daytime Sleep Patterns
To start with I began to observe the daytime sleep patterns of my son carefully. I was surprised to learn that even though his daytime naps were not too long, he definitely slept more than 3-4 times during the day. I came to understand that his sleep was interrupted due to the noise in the house or because his diaper was too full or he was feeling too hot or cold. To compensate for the loss of sleep due to these intrusions, he had to take multiple naps which interfered with his nighttime sleep schedule. So, once I resolved these issues, his daytime sleep pattern gradually returned to normal.
Create A Safe Sleep Environment
I had learned through my research that sleeping close to a parent, especially their mother, makes the babies feel secure and helps to fall asleep more quickly. I ensured that my son felt comfortable and safe when he went off to sleep, especially at night. For this, I made him sleep with me on the bed for some time rather than trying to put him to sleep directly in his crib at night. I was nt sure that this tip would work but until I experienced the changes for myself. I gently shifted my son to his crib only afer he fell into deep sleep and with this small change, his sleep duration and quality improved significantly.
Follow A Consistent Bedtime Routine
Like all new mothers my bedtime routine had gone for a toss after the birth of my son and it was gradually turning into a habit. But then, as a part of my effort to correct the sleep schedule of my son, I started to follow my old bedtime routine again. It was a simple routine where I avoided staying up late, dimmed the lights of the bedroom 10 minutes before bedtime, changed into a nightdress and put on some light relaxing music. As I followed this routine consistently for a few days, I found that my son started getting drowsy around the same time and hence slept well.
Understand The Baby’s Needs
One important change that helped me improve the sleep schedule of my son was to avoid playing with him when he was showing signs of drowsiness. I think all new mothers want to cuddle their babies and play with them all the time, but since the babies sleep a lot, the fun time is limited. So I often ignored the fact that my son was feeling sleepy or his eyes were drooping simply to spend some more fun time with him. This naturally disrupted his sleep cycle and when I realized my mistake I stopped doing so immediately.
I hope that the above information can prove helpful for new parents trying to understand the sleep patterns of their little ones and setting a healthy sleep schedule for them.
“This post is a part of Wellness Hour Blog Hop by Rakhi Jayashankar “
‘This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’
I’m always breathing down their backs to sleep because I notice how my son behaves if he does not sleep well. He is 7 and 8 hours of sleep is not enough. That’s what they are learning in school. But I always tell them sleep as much as possible.
This post is going to surely help many new moms out there.y daughter had sleep issues and it has badly affected her milestones.
As a new Mom, even though theoretically speaking I knew most of the facts about a baby’s sleep patterns and how important it was for their healthy overall development, I remember it was not easy at all in the first 3 months but things definitely started falling into place after that. This article should ally the anxieties of many Moms and also help them have healthy sleep hygiene for themselves and their baby.
I used to be a great sleeper till I became an adult. Since I am not married, my sleep patterns are erratic to say the least. And my mother used to have a havoc time when we were small. My siblings were twins and she tells us that my brother would cry the whole night. Then in the morning, she would send me to school. I think moms will love your post Samata, you have shared so many tips for them, esepcially about dimming the lights and putting on light music.
Sleep is one component to every human being’s wellness no matter what age one is at. For babies though, it more important as they are still in their growing stage. If this ain’t given much attention and importance, it’s not only the babies health that can be put in jeopardy but also the parents as well as they are the main caregivers who don’t get much rest as well.
Yes, it takes time to set a proper sleep schedule for babies. I have also struggled with this aspect with my elder one. sleep is an important aspect of our well being, so as a parent we should pay a proper attention to make it better for babies.
Hi Samata, your post really resonated with me. I remember feeling so overwhelmed by all the advice as a new parent, especially when it came to sleep routines. Dealing with your baby’s sleep patterns and the anxiety it caused is a story that so many of us share. Your insights into the various sleep stages and the practical tips you provided for improving sleep routines are incredibly valuable. I’m going to share your post with my sister-in-law, who just became a mom 10 days ago.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I had a colicky baby who didnt sleep at all for months in the night. I also had post natal depression and I am suffering with it even after 40 years. I wish I had got to read your post then. I was 20 and clueless about everything.Even right now I am going through a severe depressive episode.
This article is a fantastic resource for new parents who are navigating the complex world of baby sleep schedules. The author’s personal journey and research provide valuable insights into the challenges and solutions surrounding baby sleep patterns.
The tips shared are practical and actionable, making it easier for parents to implement changes that can positively impact their baby’s sleep routine. From creating a safe sleep environment to following a consistent bedtime routine, these strategies are not only helpful but also considerate of the baby’s well-being.
I truly appreciate the author’s transparency in sharing their experiences, both the challenges and the successes. It’s a reassuring read for parents who might be struggling with similar sleep issues. Thank you for shedding light on this essential aspect of parenting! Sharing this with moms around me who need this info.🌙
I forgot my journey of handling a sleepless baby, who must be born on the other side of the planet as per his sleep timings. 🙂
#BabySleepSolutions
Great insights shared! Your personal experience navigating your baby’s sleep schedule is relatable. The breakdown of sleep cycles and practical tips for improvement make it informative. Your dedication to finding solutions for better sleep shows your commitment as a parent. Keep sharing your valuable experiences!
Firstly, I must say, your post is visually very appealing. The information is so easily accessible that in parts you can simply go to the text next to the image and the gist of the content…. And the topic you’ve chosen is so relevant and useful for new moms. With so much advice floating around online and offline, new moms must be confused about many things about child care and one of them is this. well done!!
Babies sleep patter doesn’t effect just them but to the entire household, specially the new mother. My elder one used to sleep at 3am, it was a tough time. I wish I knew all this then.
Babies have such unpredictable sleeping patterns that often it becomes difficult for new moms to keep up with them. My son hardly slept for 10 hours while my daughter napped for almost 18 hours a day when they were born. It tends to get easier over time but can be quite stressful for others.
Sleep is very vital for babies growth the more they sleep the better they grow. Somehow I was lucky and inspite of having twins my both kids had good sleep pattern. You have rightly mentioned the pointers. It will be great help to all new moms.
You have touched a very crucial topic. Our brain grows during sleep and the infancy and toddler stage is the most important in this aspect. Also sleep has a direct role with immunity, hence proper sleep is indispensable.
Sleep routine is very essential for the parent and the child. A mess up in one invariably affects the other. These tips are really very helpful to set one properly thanks for sharing
Sleep routine is important for babies’ growth. I have heard this by my elders and doctors say the same. Very informative post for everyone especially for new mothers.
Being a mom myself,the post is relatable. In my early motherhood days, I didn’t know this but later on I realised how sleep creates a positive impact on our kids emotional and mental health. You mentioned it right, sleeping hrs depends on the age of the child . Loved your detailed blogpost.
This is really valuable information buddy, I wish I had known it when I became a new mom, then we never connected to the web to check facts
You have explained the baby sleep patterns so nicely through your post. When I was going through this phase it was difficult to understand, I took my doctor’s support to understand these details. Your post is very helpful for a new mom because dealing with so many changes and understanding baby sleep patterns could can be stressful for a new mom.
Sleep is something that we often ignore but it is one of the crucial factors that help us keep our health fit and fine. I never had Insomnia in my school days or college days but after starting my prep for govt exams and facing failure attempts I became an insomniac. This is when I realized that sleep plays a significant role in our overall well-being. Your post is extremely well-written and informative for the mommies and would-be mommies. I liked every bit of it. Especially, the way you have presented the vital information in an easy way, I really appreciate. Thank you for joining us and making this blog hop successful. I am grateful for your contribution and participation in the wellness hour blog hop. Means a lot. Gratitude.
I so agree with you that sleep is very important for us and Quality sleep is more important to be healthy and fit. I myself feel this, if my sleep is disturbed, I became irritating and get irritated by any small thing which is not even an issue. Time table management really do help and we as parents has experienced the same with our children. I agree with all points you have mentioned here and experienced them too. This can be saved by new moms or moms to be for future reference.