You expect sleepless nights when a little one joins the family, and the age-old image of sleep-deprived parents isn't one that's going to vanish any time soon. We know it isn't easy. In fact, it’s reported that new parents face up to six years of sleep deprivation.
This is often worse in the first three months, not to mention the dreaded sleep regressions that can kick in during important milestones. It's no wonder that the first year of your baby's life can pass in an exhausted blur.
The temptation for new parents is often to use caffeine to get themselves through the day, and try to skip daytime naps in the hope they'll sleep better at night. But napping during the day and getting as much sleep as possible is important for both you and baby – here are four reasons why.
Growth and Gain
Babies grow at an extraordinary rate – they can double their birth weight by time they’re five months old, and triple it by a year old. That's a lot to grow in such a brief time, and it’s supported with good sleep.
The hormone somatotropin makes your little one grow and is released throughout the day. But approximately 80% of it is released during sleep. A lack of sleep can slow physical development. One study found a link between increased sleep and growth spurts in babies, showing how much it can help them quickly grow out of those size one nappies.
Mental Wellbeing
Another study found that babies with sleep problems, including frequent waking and crutches such as being nursed to sleep, were closely associated with mothers who experienced high postnatal depression scores.
Parents who are exhausted may find it harder to maintain good mental wellbeing. Looking after yourself – and the quality of your sleep – is hugely important too. Sleep deprivation signs include panic attacks, irritability, a loss of focus and mood swings.
Brainpower
Your baby’s brain doubles in size by their first birthday and lots of their learning is done while they sleep. There are strong links between good sleep and higher developmental scores.
This is probably because, just like adults, sleep is essential for memory consolidation. It helps infants strengthen memories and things they’ve learned during the day, and process information about the world around them.
A Strong Immune System
For both mum and baby, sleep is vital for a strong immune system. This is especially true for babies, as their immune systems are still immature and need time to develop. Sleep deprivation, in both adults and babies, can make disease and infection more likely and stretch out recovery times.
Even minor coughs and colds can feel miserable, and sleep-deprived adults are three times more likely to pick up the seasonal flu. A healthy immune system will also help protect you and your baby from more serious illnesses as well, so you can sleep a little easier knowing they're healthy.
It's clear to see that good sleep is something that's crucial for both you and your baby. New parents do not have to suffer through sleep deprivation. As this guide reminds us, “sleep is a dynamic process” – the quantity and quality of your child’s sleep will vary throughout their development. Don’t put yourself under further pressure.
