10 Reasons Sleep is Important for Babies & Parents
I think we can all agree, there is nothing more precious than watching our little ones sleep. But did you know sleep plays a huge role in their physical, mental, and emotional well-being?
Society tells us that sleep for mom is a luxury. It’s something she shouldn’t expect and if she does sleep, she’s probably being selfish.
We say no to that.
Helping your baby sleep and sleeping more yourself is a precious gift to your child and your family that has lasting impact. Here are 10 reasons (for parents and babies) why sleep is so important.
For parents
1. Being sleep deprived can cause you to be as impaired as being legally drunk.
Did you know that 24 hours of sleeplessness makes a person as impaired as having a 0.10% blood alcohol level?!
A Harvard study also showed that having a week of less than 5 hours sleep each night leaves a person as impaired as being legally drunk.
None of us would knowingly leave our babies with an impaired person, yet as parents, we easily end up just as compromised because we lack sleep.
2. When you as a parent are well-rested, you can wake up FOR your kids instead of TO your kids.
When you get a good night’s sleep, you can approach parenting your toddler or caring for your baby with more patience, clarity, and confidence. You're mentally and physically rested enough to be fully present and enjoy the time with your littles. When you get a good night’s sleep, you can wake up ready to show up and do the incredible work of raising your children.
3. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of marital conflict and low marital satisfaction.
Getting better sleep can help strengthen your marriage and your relationship with your spouse.
As a husband and a wife, you are the foundation of your home. If you aren’t working - nothing is working.
See some of the research HERE and HERE.
4. Studies show moms who get better sleep are less likely to suffer from depression.
The risk of postpartum depression is much higher in mothers of babies with sleep problems.
A mother’s mood has a direct effect on her children. About 10-15% of mothers in the United States report being depressed during their baby’s first year.
Can you imagine how many moms go undiagnosed?
There has been a huge amount of research done that shows a relationship between baby’s poor sleep and their mother’s depression. Studies have even been done that show when a baby’s sleep improves, their mother’s symptoms of depression improves as well.
Aside from how hard postpartum depression is on the mother, it also affects the child. A depressed mama may not be able to be as emotionally available, sensitive, or as responsive to her baby for extended periods of time.
Click HERE to get your child’s perfect daily schedule!
For babies and kids
5. Sleep has a direct effect on learning and cognitive abilities
There are numerous studies that show sleep has a direct effect on a baby or child’s ability to learn (including, but not limited to, their cognitive performance, their ability to learn to speak, their motor skill development, and their memory consolidation).
6. Sleep has a direct effect on a child’s happiness
Lack of sleep has been shown to negatively affect a child’s happiness, their behavior, and their overall mood.
7. Better sleep can improve independent play and the use of imagination
Who doesn’t love to watch their child’s imagination run wild or their baby be enthralled and content to play with a simple toy? When our babies and kids play independently, it gives them the opportunity to learn important skills and it helps their imaginations grow. It gives them space to be creative, helps them be more self-reliant, and improves focus and thinking skills. Fostering independent play in our kids is also a great way to allow us as parents to take a few minutes for ourselves - to cook, shower, or just take a quiet break.
Check out our Independent Play post HERE.
8. Lack of sleep could lead to misdiagnosis of ADHD
The symptoms of sleep deprivation in kids are very similar to the symptoms of ADHD: short attention spans, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, aggression etc.
Adults tend to slow down and lose energy when they’re tired. Tiredness in babies and kids looks more like overstimulation (they get more hyperactive and have an extremely hard time settling down). Watch this Instagram highlight to better understand over-tiredness and overstimulation in babies and toddlers and how to prevent it from happening:
See some of the research HERE and HERE.
9. Lack of sleep can increase the chances that your child will get sick.
Not getting enough sleep has a negative effect on our body’s immune systems. When our immune systems are weak, we get sick easier and more often. See some of the research HERE.
10. Sleep impacts your child’s growth and increases their risk of obesity
The growth hormone is primarily released during the night while your baby is in a deep sleep cycle. They literally need sleep to grow! Poor sleep is also linked to an increased risk of obesity. See some of the research HERE.
The bottom line:
Babies and kids who get good sleep are happier, more content, smarter, and healthier.
Well-rested parents are better equipped to care for and show up for their families.
For all of these reasons (and many more) we think it is so important to establish healthy sleep habits with your babies and your kids. It’s never too late to help your baby or child get the sleep they need. At the Goodnight House our hearts are to teach you how to help your baby sleep better and experience more rest, peace, and joy in parenthood.