Sleep

Newborns sleep 16 to 18 hours a day.
Infants 0 to 2 years of age sleep an average of 12.8 hours a day, within a range of 9.7 to 15.9 hours.
- But only short bursts at a time
Surveys indicate 20 to 30 percent of infants have difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep at night.
Sleep deprivation in early parenting is a major stressor

Infant Sleeping Arrangements

Parent–infant co-sleeping is the norm in many of the world’s population.
Cultural emphasis on independent vs. interdependent self strongly influences infant sleeping arrangements.
Co-sleeping is increasing in Western nations, perhaps because of a rise in breastfeeding.
American Academy of Pediatrics discourages shared sleeping because of the risk of SIDS. Recommend baby in room until 6 mo. Of age

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): a condition that occurs when infants stop breathing, usually during the night, and die suddenly without an apparent cause.
Each year, there are about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths in the United States.
Highest risk is at 2 to 4 months of age.
Infants should sleep on their backs rather than on their stomachs.
Less common in bedrooms with a fan, for infants who breastfeed, and for infants who use a pacifier.
Babies might have a higher risk of SIDS if:
- their mother smoked, drank, or used drugs during pregnancy and after birth
- their mother had poor prenatal care
- they were born prematurely or at a low birth weight
- there's a family history of SIDS
- their mothers were younger than 20 when they gave birth they are around tobacco smoke after birth
- babies get overheated

In REM sleep, the eyes flutter beneath closed lids.
In non-REM sleep, this type of eye movement does not occur and sleep is quieter.
Infants spend more time in REM sleep than at any other point of the life span.
Researchers are not certain why this is the case; it may provide added self-stimulation, and it may promote the brain’s development.

Infants who sleep mostly at night appear to have higher levels of executive function at age 4.
Poor quality of infant sleep has been shown to have negative effects for the child.
Lower attention regulation and more behavior problems at 3 to 4 years of age.
Greater distractibility.
Link between infant sleep and children’s cognitive functioning likely occurs because of sleep’s role in brain maturation and memory consolidation.

Newborns sleep 16 to 18 hours a day.
Infants 0 to 2 years of age sleep an average of 12.8 hours a day, within a range of 9.7 to 15.9 hours.
- But only short bursts at a time
Surveys indicate 20 to 30 percent of infants have difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep at night.
Sleep deprivation in early parenting is a major stressor

Parent–infant co-sleeping is the norm in many of the world’s population.
Cultural emphasis on independent vs. interdependent self strongly influences infant sleeping arrangements.
Co-sleeping is increasing in Western nations, perhaps because of a rise in breastfeeding.
American Academy of Pediatrics discourages shared sleeping because of the risk of SIDS. Recommend baby in room until 6 mo. Of age

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): a condition that occurs when infants stop breathing, usually during the night, and die suddenly without an apparent cause.
Each year, there are about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths in the United States.
Highest risk is at 2 to 4 months of age.
Infants should sleep on their backs rather than on their stomachs.
Less common in bedrooms with a fan, for infants who breastfeed, and for infants who use a pacifier.
Babies might have a higher risk of SIDS if:
- their mother smoked, drank, or used drugs during pregnancy and after birth
- their mother had poor prenatal care
- they were born prematurely or at a low birth weight
- there's a family history of SIDS
- their mothers were younger than 20 when they gave birth they are around tobacco smoke after birth
- babies get overheated

In REM sleep, the eyes flutter beneath closed lids.
In non-REM sleep, this type of eye movement does not occur and sleep is quieter.
Infants spend more time in REM sleep than at any other point of the life span.
Researchers are not certain why this is the case; it may provide added self-stimulation, and it may promote the brain’s development.

Infants who sleep mostly at night appear to have higher levels of executive function at age 4.
Poor quality of infant sleep has been shown to have negative effects for the child.
Lower attention regulation and more behavior problems at 3 to 4 years of age.
Greater distractibility.
Link between infant sleep and children’s cognitive functioning likely occurs because of sleep’s role in brain maturation and memory consolidation.