The Benefits of Sleep: Why it’s important for your baby

Sleep is essential - March 2023 celebrates both World Sleep Day and Sleep Awareness Week, which highlights the importance of sleep for your baby.
Every baby sleeps differently, and their sleep patterns will change as they grow. The most important thing is they get enough sleep, so they'll be able to learn, develop and enjoy exploring the world around them.
 

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A good night's sleep promotes growth.

You are right if you think your baby grew overnight. As your baby grows, they will likely experience several growth spurts. By the time they reach 5 months of age, they are expected to double the weight they were born with and triple it when they reach 1! This tremendous amount of growth is aided by sleep when growth hormones are greatly enhanced.

Weight is affected by sleep.

A growing body of research indicates that kids who don't get enough sleep are more likely to start becoming overweight in their infancy. When we're satisfied, our fat cells make the hormone leptin, which tells us to stop eating, but sleep deprivation can affect that hormone. Like adults, a tired kid may crave higher-fat or higher-carb foods.

They can beat germs by sleeping.

Sleep is so important to a baby's immune system, because it's weaker than an adult's. It takes time for immunity to develop, and sleep plays a big role. A baby's recovery can be affected by sleep deprivation, which can make them more prone to disease and infection. They can also lose quality sleep and their sleep cycle can be disrupted by it.

Little learners benefit from sleep.

Your baby may look peaceful while sleeping, but their brain is busy all night long. When asleep, infants can strengthen their memories and the knowledge they have acquired while awake. During the first year, when everything is new to them, processing information in this way is particularly important.