Why Is Sleep Important?
Why is sleep important? Because it makes you happy, healthy and smart. That's how I answered my son's question about the importance of sleep the other day.And it's true, the benefits of sleep are basic and felt in our everyday lives, from newborn through adulthood.
Why is sleep important for your baby?
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courtesy of a4gpa
As a parent you know how happy and sweet a baby can be after a good sleep - and how cranky and fussy when tired ...
And if baby sleeps well, you benefit too: you get more sleep, which makes you feel better and keeps you healthy. And that again is good for baby.
But there are more fundamental benefits of sleep for a baby:
- Hard work is done in a newborn's brain, and proper brain development requires enough and good quality sleep.
- When sleeping, a baby dreams most of the time. Researchers found that dreaming stimulates baby's brain and so assists in its healthy development.
- The first six months are crucial for developing good sleeping skills. It's in these months that baby sleep patterns mature most quickly and the stage is set for sleep through life.
- Poor sleep in infancy has been linked to obesity, as a child and as an adult. [1]
- Good sleep as a child also decreases the chance for general health problems and emotional difficulties like depression and anxiety.
- Good sleep makes good sleep ... sounds silly but it's true. A baby that is not overtired, will settle much easier and have better nights as well.
If your baby does not sleep well ...
Does that mean your child is doomed to be unhealthy and unhappy? No, of course not. What we call "not sleeping well" is usually just fine for baby.Your baby may not be taking any naps at all or may not be sleeping through the night at 6 months or at 18 months. But that can still be just fine for her and give her enough good quality sleep.
What is important is that we give baby the right support to go through that all important development of sleep organisation in the first six months.
How? By guiding in a loving and determined way. Loving means with enough attention for her needs and natural baby and infant sleep patterns. And without forcing her sleep unnaturally (like overfeeding or certain medical sleep aids).
Determined means you don't necessarily give her all the freedom: you choose where and how she sleeps, when you put her to bed, when is play time and when is quiet time ...
That gives your baby the safe and consistent environment to develop her sleeping at best.
The sleep disturbers and baby sleep through the night pages offer ideas and useful tricks.
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If YOU are tired ...
The first effect of sleep deprivation is always emotional: we feel down, low on energy and without much confidence in what we do.It's good to know this and to think about it when you feel depressed after many broken nights with your baby. It's only the lack of sleep doing this - it's not you not being strong enough or not trying hard enough.
Help yourself by catching up on sleep as much as you can. A quick nap, an early night or even an hour or so between the last day and first night feeding can work wonders. You may find some simple relaxation techniques helpful too.
Also, do not hesitate to ask your partner, family or friends to help you from time to time, for example with babysitting while you nap. If you would like support you can also contact me or Ask me A Question here.
The answer to the Why Is Sleep Important? question is in all of the above.
Sleep is very natural but often not easy, especially in today's rushed times. The best tip I could give is to keep the importance of sleep in the back of your mind, but do not over-emphasize. Keeping a relaxed attitude will help you and your baby sleep better too.
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[1] Sleep and physical growth in infants during the first 6 months Tikotzky L, De Marcas G, Har-Toov J. et al. - Journal of Sleep Research, 2009. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2009.00772.x
