Babies have been known to keep parents up until the wee hours of the morning, so it's not always easy to notice if they are having problems sleeping. However, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests it's important to be more observant since babies who have sleeping problems may carry the difficulties with them as they grow older.
Surveying more than 250 mothers about their children’s sleeping problems at six, 12, 34 and 42 months old, the research team found that 1 in 10 kids under the age of three had problems sleeping. The problems that may manifest differ depending on the age of the children. Those who were under two years old mostly suffered from the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Meanwhile, those who were around three years old had to deal with restlessness and nightmares.
The study also found that out of 100 babies, six to eight who had no trouble sleeping during the survey developed sleeping problems when they grew older. On the other hand, 21 to 35 of those who were found to have sleeping problems still had them a few years after.
According to lead author Kelly Byars, sleep problems may not be as serious as other sleeping disorders, but they can still affect children’s moods. If you want to give them the best possible childhood, consider scheduling an appointment with the pediatrician when you have the chance.
For more studies on babies, check these out on FN:
- Babies Less Likely to Imitate People Who Have "Fooled" Them Before
- Stress Raises Odds of Having a Baby Girl
- Educational Programs Have No Effect on Babies
(Photo source: sxc.hu)
