Baby sleep tips: A guide for the science
Baby sleep tips and topics: A guide for the science-minded parent 2008 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved
Welcome to your source for baby sleep tips and articles based on the latest scientific research in sleep, pediatrics, and anthropology.
Here you will find the latest, “state-of-the-art” baby sleep chart available to pediatricians.
To interpret this chart, check out my article on baby sleep requirements. It explains how researchers create sleep charts, and what factors account for individual differences in baby sleep needs.
You’ll also find articles about newborn sleep and baby sleep patterns– including information about sleep cycles, circadian rhythms, cross-cultural sleep practices, and more.
In addition, there are evidence-based articles on the science of SIDS, SIDS prevention strategies, and the safety of bed sharing, as well as
the most common infant sleep problems (and how to deal with them)
medical conditions that interfere with baby sleep
signs of overtiredness or baby sleep deprivation
baby sleep aids
baby sleep training
If you’re looking for information about sleep in older chldren, see my evidence-based guide to family sleep topics.
Like other offerings at ParentingScience.com, these articles include full scientific references–so you can evaluate the evidence for yourself, and make an informed decision about what is best for you and your family.
More detailed information about these articles is provided below.
How babies sleep: A survival guide for tired parents Looking to improve your familys sleep life? An excellent first step is to get familiar with the science of baby sleep.
Once you understand how, why, and when babies sleep, it will be easier for you to decide on the best sleep strategies for your family. Andwhile its a clichI think its true for most people that understanding brings peace of mind.
If you have a new baby, check out my article on newborn sleep. It explains why newborn sleep seems out-of-sync with the 24-hour day, and offers baby sleep tips for helping your newborn develop her own circadian rhythms.
It also reviews baby sleep cycles, which are key for understanding why newborns are so easily aroused from sleep. The article includes baby sleep tips for avoiding unnecessary night awakenings and tips for improving your own sleep during the newborn period.
In addition, you should check out my article baby sleep patterns. There you will find information on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
After the newborn period
If your baby is already over 4 weeks old, you might prefer to skip ahead to my article on baby sleep patterns. This article explains how baby circadian rhythms and sleep cycles mature over time, and reviews the environmental risk factors for SIDS. It covers how parenting styles, developmental milestones and medical conditions that can affect baby sleep. And the article also reviews two ideas promoted by many Western medical professionalsthat babies should sleep through the night and that babies should learn to self-soothe. Are these achievements necessaryor even realistic? The evidence suggests they may not be.
How many hours of sleep does your baby need? To my surprise, Ive learned that there isnt any straightforward, scientific answer to this question. Those authoritative-looking sleep charts you see everywhere are based on scientific guesswork, and they do a poor job of conveying how much variation there is among individuals. To learn more about estimating your babys sleep needs, see my articles on baby sleep requirements and the signs of sleep deprivation. Troubleshooting: Baby sleep tips for identifying and treating sleep problems Some babies suffer from medical conditions that disturb their sleep. If your baby seems to be having trouble falling asleepor staying asleepit is prudent to have him checked for one of these medical conditions. For more details, see this article on the organic causes of baby sleep disturbances.
However, Western sleep researchers report that most ongoing baby sleep problems are not caused by underlying medical conditions. Instead, they are caused by environmental factors-and these are factors you have the power to change.
In my troubleshooting article, I review science-based baby sleep tips for the most common causes of infant sleep problems. I also discuss the controversy about leaving babies alone to “cry it out,” and review what sleep training programs may be safe and appropriate for babies under the age of 12 months.
But does your baby really have a sleep problem? Perhaps everything is going reasonably well, except that you are worried that your baby is sleeping too little-or too much. If this is your concern, check out my article on baby sleep requirements.
Baby sleep solutions For more baby sleep tips, see my article on finding the right infant sleep aid.
In addition, see my article on infant sleep training. It reviews two scientifically-tested sleep training programs appropriate for babies over 6 months old.
Looking for other information? Be sure to browse the parenting science index or use the search button at the top of the left hand column to find something specific.
Content last modified 4/08
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