Speaking to the Sean O’Rourke program on RTE Radio 1 recently, clinical psychologist, David Coleman offered his take on some of the most pressing sleep questions that plague parents.
1. How much sleep do babies need?
For 0-1-year-olds: Coleman recommends between 12 and 18 hours (spread over naps and nighttime sleep) per 24 hour period.
Breastfed babies may sleep 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours at a time.
For 1-3-year-olds: About 11 – 14 hours sleep per 24 hour period (this may include one nap or two smaller naps).
2. How long until a baby is sleeping through the night?
“It’s unfortunately as long as a piece of string as no two children are alike. Lots of children will fall into a sleep pattern (where they are more sleepy at nighttime and wakeful during the day) from about 3 months.”
3. What are the effects of lack of sleep?
“You’re going to have grumpy children! Often a sign that they’re not getting enough sleep is if they’re snacking a lot.”
“If children are not physically active, it effects the circadian rhythm.”
4. How important is routine?
“Routine is critical because we build up associations and habits when it comes to sleep. So when children and babies get used to the same pattern coming up to bedtime, they know that they are on the road to sleep.”
5. What is your opinion on ‘blankies’ and other comforters?
“Comforters are absolutely perfect because babies rely on adults to provide them with comfort and in order to fall asleep, we need to feel comfortable, safe and secure. And if we don’t have those three key elements we’re not going to find it easy to fall asleep. So babies typically find great comfort from being in their parents’ arms, snuggled in beside a parent… the sucking motion of feeding is a great comfort for children falling asleep.”
6. Is co-sleeping a good idea?
“I’m a big fan of children sleeping with their parents if needs be – either sleeping in the same room or the same bed. Particularly people who breastfeed will tell you it’s far easier to have your child in your bed because then they tend to just turn into you, feed and turn away from you. As opposed to the palaver of getting up and going to feed and so on.”
7. How long should parents co-sleep?
“(It should continue) as long as you want it to continue, you’ll never find a 13 or 14-year-old wanting to share a bed with their parents – that just doesn’t happen!”
“Don’t get hung up about it.”
“Parents make the decision that it’s now time for the child to move on to the next stage.”
8. What to do about a baby who is asleep all day and awake at night?
“Let there be lots of noise during daytime naps, let the naps be shorter if needs be. That way when we come to the nighttime we tend to have things a lot quieter and a lot calmer and that sometimes can be a bit of a signal for children.
Visit here for HSE approved guidelines for safe infant sleep.
