Longing for more hours of unbroken sleep?
Aren't we all.
However, expert now say there is something worth trying if your baby keeps waking up during the night (and it isn't related to hunger or a wet nappy).
According to a new study from Michigan State University (MSU) in the US, it seems inactivity during the day could be a culprit when it comes to broken sleep-patterns during the night.
The research suggests babies who are less active during the day may also be getting less sleep at night. The study analyzed 22 healthy six-month-old infants and monitored physical activity level and sleep over 24 hours. Researchers found that babies who slept less overall in the monitored 24 hours were significantly less active during the day.
The magic trick?
According to researchers, more tummy time during the day could mean more restful nights for baby and mama.
Tummy time, of course, is advised as it will help babies develop important motor skills, and so this research focused on the effect physical activity, such as tummy time, has on infants.
"While we don't have evidence yet that tummy time directly affects sleep, it increases physical activity and promotes healthy weight gain," says Janet Hauck, an assistant professor of kinesiology at MSU, who specializes in infant motor intervention research. "So, parents who feel their baby isn't sleeping enough could promote tummy time during the day to boost their baby's physical activity level."
And according to Hauck, physical activity and sleep influence each other and are strongly associated with growth in older children and adults. "Our findings suggest that this association could emerge as early as infancy, a critical development period," she explains.
To improve sleep, Hauck suggests establishing a consistent bedtime routine and encouraging physical activity during waking hours by interacting with baby during floor activities and doing supervised tummy time several times a day.
