- Is Sleep as Important as Diet
I’m sure you can guess what my answer is to this question, since I am, after all, a pediatric sleep consultant. I tend to put a high priority on sleep and am, in my humble opinion, justifiably passionate about its benefits for babies.
Some of you may be questioning whether my passion for sleep is clouding my view on this matter, or if there is evidence to support my position?
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m a firm believer that feeding our kids a healthy, balanced, varied diet is essential to their well-being. I might even go so far as to say that it’s the single most important factor when it comes to our children’s health.
But sleep is, if not equally as important, a very close contender.
Childhood obesity is a huge public health issue, and kids who are obese grow into obese adults, and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the endless list of health issues that come along with obesity. (But just in case you’re not familiar, they include diabetes, heart disease, all kinds of cancer, osteoarthritis, and joint inflammation, just to name a few.)
But what does sleep have to do with obesity? Again, I’m glad you asked.
A 2008 study by the National Institute of Health looked at the average number of daily hours of sleep that kids between 6 months and two years old were getting, and then compared those results with their occurrences of obesity. The children who got an average of less than 12 hours of sleep a day were over twice as likely to be obese than those who slept for 12 or more. A much larger study done in the UK showed similar results.
With all the health issues, as well as the general quality of life concerns that come along with obesity, it seems to me that sleep should be a major concern for parents.
However, every day I hear people advising new parents with what I’m sure is meant to be reassuring rhetoric, but I must admit, given the evidence, I find it really upsetting.
“Babies sleep when they want to sleep. Don’t force it.”
“Not sleeping is totally normal for a baby.”
“Just follow your baby’s lead. They know how much sleep they need.”
Can you imagine this same kind of talk if it was concerning baby’s diet?
“Babies know what’s healthy to eat. Just follow their lead.”
“Eating chocolate is totally normal for babies.”
“Kids will eat when they’re ready. You shouldn’t schedule mealtimes.”
If you heard those words coming out of anybody’s mouth, you would immediately qualify them as a lunatic, and you certainly wouldn’t listen to their advice on your kids.
As parents, we all obviously want our kids to live healthy, active lives, and we want to give them every advantage to ensure they get a good start. Making sure they get enough sleep, and teaching them solid sleep skills, will go a long way to promoting their overall health down the road.
Previous Blog Posts
- Is Sleep as Important as DietI’m sure you can guess what my answer is to this question, since I am, after all, a pediatric sleep consultant. I tend to put a high priority on sleep and am, in my humble opinion, justifiably passionate about its benefits for babies. Some of you may be questioning whether my passion for sleep is… Read more: Is Sleep as Important as Diet
- Removing Yourself From Baby’s Sleep RoutineSo, perhaps that’s a bit of a misleading title. I’m not suggesting that you can remove yourself from baby’s bedtime routine altogether. Even if you could somehow say to your child, “Alright. It’s almost bedtime. Go have a bath, brush your teeth, get into your PJs, read yourself a story and tuck yourself in. Mommy… Read more: Removing Yourself From Baby’s Sleep Routine
- What If My Baby Looks Uncomfortable?I don’t know if I’m biased or not, but to me, the sight of a sleeping baby is the most peaceful, comforting image I can imagine. The sheer peacefulness, the softness of those fluffy pajamas, the way they hold their arms by their sides, the nearly inaudible sound of their breath, the perfect stillness of… Read more: What If My Baby Looks Uncomfortable?
- Staying on Track With a New BabySo, first off, congratulations! You’ve either just welcomed a new baby into the house, or you’re about to shortly. What wonderful news! And congratulations once again on getting your older baby sleeping soundly through the night, and taking long, rejuvenating naps during the day! Look at you, absolutely killing it at this parenting thing! But… Read more: Staying on Track With a New Baby
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