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Mom's and baby's sleep patterns: A new study on how sleep patterns can interact
14.09.2023 00:30
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:23
New mothers often experience sleep problems in the first few years of their baby's life.
A study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looked at how both mothers and babies sleep, what affects their sleep, and how to create better sleep habits.
They hope this can help lots of moms to sleep better.
More about the study
The study found two groups of mothers: one group had low sleep (around 5-6 hours per night), and the other had average sleep (7-8 hours per night).
Babies in the low sleep group also slept less, but the difference wasn't huge.
The researchers followed 464 families with infants for two years.
They asked mothers about bedtime routines, their baby's sleep, and any sleep issues at different ages.
Factors that affect it
Factors affecting mothers' sleep included babies waking up at night.
Mothers who worked long hours had lower sleep at 3 months, but this changed by 12 months.
Breastfeeding at 12 months was linked to better sleep for mothers.
Over time, many families moved from the low sleep group to the average sleep group as babies' sleep patterns improved.
Early bedtime routines and consistent schedules helped babies sleep better.
No significant differences were found based on factors like education, income, or ethnicity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting babies to bed early and following sleep guidelines is essential for their development.
Parents can start creating good sleep habits for their children early on, which can have positive effects on their health and learning.
