logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Online Classes
  • Learning Center
  • My BabySparks
  • Login
  • Join Us

    • Contact Us

    • Logout
  • My Profile
    • Contact Us
    • Logout
  • es
  • Prev
    infant sleep safety 0
    Infant Sleep Safety
    27 February 2019
    Next
    Why naps are important for babies and toddlers 0
    Why Naps are a Must for Babies and Toddlers
    28 February 2019
    Health & Nutrition
    The Role of Sleep in Baby & Toddler Development
    27 February, 2019 by BabySparks in Health & Nutrition

    Little ones need three main things to thrive: Loving, supportive parents and caregivers who interact with them in meaningful ways, adequate nutrition and, you guessed it, adequate sleep.

    Sleep is important throughout our lives, but especially during the early years when the brain is developing in critical ways.

    Highlights: 

    • Sleep is especially important in early childhood when the brain is developing in critical ways. 
    • Healthy sleep routines reduce the risk of obesity, increase attention span and learning, and decrease behavioral problems. In addition, growth hormones that are essential for development are released during deep sleep stages. 
    • It’s normal for newborns to have irregular sleep patterns, but as they mature, babies sleep for longer stretches throughout the night and have a more predictable daytime nap schedule. 
    • By 18-24 months, toddlers generally sleep through the night (11 hours) and nap 2-3 hours during the day. 
    • Your child may not be getting enough sleep if they turn away from stimulation, appear disinterested in their surroundings, habitually rub their eyes, yawn frequently, or seem especially fussy. 

    Why is Sleep Important for Babies & Toddlers?

    Aside from curbing meltdowns and keeping your little one alert and content, sleep supports development in a few key ways:

    It releases growth hormones. This happens during deep sleep, and researchers have found that children with low levels of growth hormones sleep less deeply than the average child.

    It reduces obesity risk. Studies show that lack of sleep may interfere with our ability to produce a hormone that signals us to stop eating when we’re full. What’s more, tired kiddos tend to be less active, thereby burning fewer calories.

    It increases attention span and learning. Research shows that children who did not get sufficient sleep during the first 3 years of life were more likely to display attention problems and lower cognitive performance at age 6.

    It decreases behavioral problems. That same research on 6 year-olds showed that insufficient sleep during the early years led to hyperactivity and impulsivity. These effects persisted, even if children started getting more sleep.

    Browse BabySparks Expert-Led Online Sleep Classes

    How Do Sleeping Patterns Develop?

    In the beginning, infant sleep is notoriously irregular. This is normal. Newborns need to eat frequently, and they haven’t yet figured out the difference between night and day. What’s more, they spend about half of their asleep time in “active” sleep (also known as rapid eye movement, or REM sleep). During active sleep they may move, twitch, make noise, and wake up easily.

    As they mature, babies spend increasingly less time in active sleep and more time in deep sleep (also known as non-rapid eye movement, or NREM sleep).

    Around ages 2-4 months, sleep patterns begin to emerge with longer nighttime stretches and more predictable daytime naps.

    Babies continue to sleep more during the night and less during the day, although they need an afternoon nap into their preschool years.

    The evolution of sleeping patterns isn’t always a smooth process. Many little ones go through periods of sleep regression, when they start waking up more at night and fighting naps. You can read about typical sleep regression phases, why they happen, and what to do about them here.

    How Much Sleep Do Babies & Toddlers Need?

    When it comes to sleep, every child’s needs are different. Here are general guidelines:

    Age Total Hours of Sleep Total Nighttime Hours Total Daytime Hours
    Newborn – 2 months 16-18 8-9 7-9
    2-4 months 14-16 9-10 4-5
    4-6 months 14-15 total 10 4-5
    6-9 months 14 10-11 3-4
    9-12 months 14 10-12 2-3
    12-18 months 13-14 11-12 2-3
    18-24 13-14 11 2

    Signs Your Child is Not Getting Enough Sleep

    Your baby may need more sleep if he:

    • Turns away from stimulation
    • Appears disinterested in his surroundings
    • Habitually rubs his eyes or pulls on his ears
    • Yawns frequently
    • Has feeding problems
    • Is especially fussy

    Your toddler may need more sleep if he is:

    • Especially moody, clingy, or over-active (being tired can cause a stress hormone called cortisol to kick in, resulting in a burst of energy)
    • Unusually accident-prone
    • Difficult to awaken

    It’s important to note that these signs may be the result of something other than lack of sleep, and that certain conditions (such as reflux) may interfere with sleep. It’s a good idea to discuss any concerns you have about your child’s sleep with your pediatrician.

    The Importance of Naps

    Naps are essential for babies and toddlers! So much so that we wrote an entire article about them.

    To learn more about sleep, take a look at our articles on instilling good sleep habits from birth, sleep training, night terrors, and fear of the dark.

    0 Comments
    • attention
    • growth
    • health
    • learning
    • self-regulation
    • toddler
    • baby
    • sleep
    4 Like!
    Share
    BabySparks

    Recent comments

      Tags

      baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
      ABOUT US
      THE TEAM
      CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
      TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
      support@babysparks.com
      Copyright © 2021 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
      logo
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
      (All Prices in USD)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
      Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

      Number of children:

      x per child

      Total Amount

      SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      * Required field
      Buy now BS

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

      Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

      Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

      Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

      Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

      Cancel your subscription at any time

      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
      Your account
      Change your password
      X
      EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      Update payment method
      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
      Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      Update your package at any time
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      How does it work?

      You can change your activity package at any time.

      The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

      You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

      Cancel Activity Package
      shapeCheck

      shapeCheck

      X
      LOGIN BABYSPARKS

      Forgot your password?

      X
      PASSWORD RESET
      X
      RESET PASSWORD
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      Logged in as: (Not me)
      Select Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 1 99

      per month

      Paid Annually: $23.99
      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support your child’s development

      Weekly development reports summarize progress

      Browse activities for any situation

      Expert-written articles about development

      Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

      Add up to 5 babies to your account

      Cancel your susbcription at any time

      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.