Quick Referenced Sleep Info

 

 

While experiencing third trimester insomnia, I did a review of the literature on infant sleep and found a few very easy to read, reputable articles that can help back up what I tell clients and friends about infant sleep. They are very simple concepts, and easy to implement. I like to be able to support everything I suggest, and just for personal education. I invite you to read the below articles and the related and references articles that accompany them. It’s great to be informed!

 

 

 

 

Topic: Just how important is sleep to infants?

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321279/

Summary: Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of sleep following learning something new in order to retain it for a long period of time. This is true across the board in any age group, yet often overlooked in infancy. Just because they cannot speak full sentences yet, does not mean little ones need less processing time for new information.

 

 

Topic: Why it is important to allow your infant to learn self-soothing (Autonomous Resettling) within the first 3 months?

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4459553/

Summary: Not only is it possible and important, but also those not allowed the opportunity to self-soothe before 5 months, tend to have a much higher occurrence of sleep issues later on.

 

 

Topic: Trend of routines and putting down drowsy awake v asleep

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1201414/

Summary: Parents are not establishing a routine for the overnight care of their little ones. Infants put down in the crib awake more often than asleep, are much more apt to be self-soothers.

 

 

Topic: Screen time and its effects on sleep

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006444/

Summary: As expected, the more screen time (this is referencing TV specifically, but it is likely electronic devices have similar impacts) the less quality and quantity of sleep in children.

 

 

Topic: Infant sleep is directly related to parents’ quality of life

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3562740/

Summary: Having a newborn is stressful enough, and parents lacking sleep because of said newborn adds even more stress. It is important for parents to know that poor sleep habits in the infant is directly related to stress on the marriage/relationship of the parents. Overall perception of parenting quality is diminished due to poor sleep quality in parents, resulting from poor sleep quality in the infant. Establishing good sleep habits early on is beneficial not only for baby but also for the parents and the rest of the family!