Good Sleep, Healthy Growth: Why Good Sleep Matters For Your Baby

New parents often feel their days revolve around their newborn baby’s sleep. After all, we hear about how important sleep is. With a baby’s frequent night feedings, daytime naps, and regressions, it might leave you wondering just how important good sleep is for your baby. Sleep is more than just rest - it is essential for your bub’s healthy growth and development. In this post, we’ll explore how good sleep supports your little one’s growth, common sleep challenges in the first year, creating the optimal sleep space, and sleep tips for tired parents.

Parents often wonder, “When will my baby sleep through the night?”. Baby sleep is different than adult sleep, and it is common for babies under 6 months to wake up multiple times at night. This is thought to be protective against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Sleeping through the night refers to sleeping 5-6 hours at a stretch without waking up to feed or for comfort.

Good sleep looks different for newborns. Even though they don’t sleep long, continuous stretches, A baby who has good sleep is calm and happy after a feed, sleeping well during the day, can be easily soothed and settled back to sleep, and wakes up looking refreshed an alert.

How Much Sleep Does A Newborn Need

Sleep helps to support a baby’s rapid growth and development. Typically, newborns, 0-3 months, need 14-17 hours of sleep per day, including naps. Infants, 4-12 months, need 12-16 hours of sleep. Toddlers, 1-2 years old, need 11-14 hours of sleep a day. 

Baby Sleep & Growth

Good sleep is crucial for a baby’s growth, brain development and immune system. Here’s how: 

• Physical growth: When your little one is in deep sleep, the human growth hormone (HGH), which is responsible for physical growth like height, muscle mass, and bone density, is released.
• Brain development: Neural connections in the brain are built and strengthened during sleep. This becomes the foundation for learning, memory, and problem-solving skills. While babies slep, their brain clears the hippocampus where learning and memory happen so it can be filled up with new experiences again. 
• Immune system: Just like adults, a well-rested baby has a stronger immune system because that’s when their bodies produce cytokines, which help fight off infections. 

Baby Sleep & Emotional Development

A well-rested baby is also one that is calm and happy. Here’s how good sleep supports emotional and social development: 

• Mood regulation: Usually, a well-rested bub is happier, less fussy, and able to handle new experiences better.
• Alert & Engaged: When a baby is rested, they’re more alert, can pay attention, learn better, and can interact with their caregivers more. 

Baby sleep can be a mystery! Many first-time parents feel like challenges come once they have a good sleep routine. Some common sleep challenges you might experience include: 

• Sleep regressions (or progressions): Your baby might experience disrupted sleep when they’re going through a growth spurt or a developmental milestone. Growth spurts typically happen at 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 3-6 weeks, 3-4 months (hello, 4-month regression), 6 months, and 9 months. 
• Short naps: Sometimes, short naps happen, which may not give your bub the deep, restorative sleep they need. Some reasons for this may be because of being overtired, not being tired enough, the environment not being right for them, or they’re ready to drop a nap. 
• Frequent night wakings: This can happen when your bub is hunger, uncomfortable, or going through developmental milestones. 
• Other factors: Your bub might be teething, sick, or have a change in their routine that can disrupt their sleep patterns during the day or at night

Your bub’s sleep space is a place where they can wind down, feel safe, and cue their brains for sleep. Here are some ways to set up your baby’s sleep space for optimal rest: 

• Bedtime routine: Establishing a solid bedtime routine can create healthy sleep habits, signal it’s time for bed, and help them fall asleep faster. It provides a sense of comfort for them. This bedtime routine can be as simple as: 
• Take a bath 
• Apply lotion
• Put on diaper
• Put on PJs or a onesie
• Wrap your bubs up in a swaddle sleep bag 
• Sing a song
• Feeding time
• Turn on the sound machine 
• Good night 
• Lights out
• Sleep essentials: Having the right essentials creates a calming environment for your bub to sleep in. These may include swaddles, sleep bags, sleepers, a sound machine,  a night light with red light, and blackout curtains. 
• Safe sleep space: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), and Health Canada recommend create a safe speece space for babies to reduce the risk of SIDS. This includes:
• Babies should always be placed on their backs when they’re sleeping - for naps and at night. 
• They should sleep on a firm surface with a tightly fitted crib sheet.
• No loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, and loveys in their sleep space.

Sleep for your baby is crucial to their growth and development. To help your bub get restful sleep, here are some tips: 

• Watch for sleep cues like yawning, eye rubbing, and fussiness 
• Pause before responding to your baby’s waking. They could be stirring or making a sound in between their sleep cycle and not awake and need soothing. 
• Babies thrive on routine. Following a consistent schedule and bedtime routine can help your bub get the best rest. 

To learn more sleep tips, read our blog on How to Get your Baby to Sleep Through the Night in the First Year.

Good sleep is the foundation of your bub’s development, growth, and well-being. It is important for physical growth, brain development, and emotional well-being. A happy, well-rested baby thrives. While you may face sleep challenges in the first year, you can help support a restful sleep for your bub by creating the right environment for sleep - helping your baby grow into a happy, healthy toddler. 

Want soft, breathable sleep essentials that can support your baby’s sleep? Shop Nest Designs’ baby sleep essentials today.