{"id":20175,"date":"2023-12-06T21:16:07","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T21:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/?p=20175"},"modified":"2024-09-27T16:46:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T15:46:59","slug":"infant-sleep-and-brain-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Infant sleep and brain development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>This post is part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sleep-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series on Infant Sleep and its Impacts on Development<\/a>, published in collaboration with the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/journal\/infant-behavior-and-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infant Behavior and Development<\/a>. The featured research appeared in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/journal\/infant-behavior-and-development\/special-issue\/10S9QTGC1C4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special issue<\/a> on how infant sleep affects cognitive, social, and physical development and how parents and practitioners can help promote healthy sleep and development in infancy.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\" >Key takeaways for caregivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#The_sleep-wake_circadian_cycle_and_learning\" >The sleep-wake circadian cycle and learning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Sleep_and_stress_response_cycles\" >Sleep and stress response cycles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Do_infant_sleep_and_cortisol_relate_to_later_language_and_learning_skills\" >Do infant sleep and cortisol relate to later language and learning skills?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Infants_with_better_night_sleep_had_better_language_and_cognitive_abilities_as_toddlers\" >Infants with better night sleep had better language and cognitive abilities as toddlers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Higher_morning_cortisol_stress_hormone_levels_related_to_better_toddler_sleep\" >Higher morning cortisol stress hormone levels related to better toddler sleep<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#Sleep_enhances_early_brain_development\" >Sleep enhances early brain development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/infant-sleep-and-brain-development\/#How_can_parents_support_their_childrens_brain_development\" >How can parents support their children\u2019s brain development?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\"><\/span><strong>Key takeaways for caregivers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Before their first birthday, most infants sleep 12 hours a day and can sleep through the night.<\/li>\n<li>Infants who had good-quality and sufficient night sleep at eight months had <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/language-development-in-infancy-mothers-fathers\/\">better language development<\/a> and greater <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/cognitive-development-language\/\">cognitive skills<\/a> at 14 months.<\/li>\n<li>Infants with good sleep quality had higher morning cortisol levels than those with lower-quality sleep, which may reflect more mature brain organization.<\/li>\n<li>Because sleep promotes learning and <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/parenting-brain-development\/\">brain development<\/a>, caregivers should learn sleep routines and strategies that help babies learn how to sleep through the night.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_sleep-wake_circadian_cycle_and_learning\"><\/span><strong>The sleep-wake circadian cycle and learning<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the early months, newborns sleep about 75% of a 24-hour day. By nine months, they sleep about 50% of a 24-hour cycle.<\/p>\n<p>A <em><strong>circadian rhythm<\/strong><\/em> (or inner clock-like signals) develops during the first year to establish an adult-like pattern of being awake during the day and asleep at night. However, after their first birthday, about 20% to 30% of toddlers continue to have night wakings or poor night sleep.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20398\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20398\" class=\"wp-image-20398 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/18310023990_a009d5123e_k-e1696434549177.jpg\" alt=\"Mother putting baby into cot.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nichd\/18310023990\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NICHD<\/a>. Creative Commons.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Sound infant sleep is important for healthy development. Research suggests that the quantity and quality of infants\u2019 sleep are linked to learning and brain development.<\/p>\n<p>For example, babies who sleep for shorter periods have poorer memories, and infants who have difficulty sleeping at night have trouble remembering new words.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleep_and_stress_response_cycles\"><\/span><strong>Sleep and stress response cycles<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While developing a sleep-wake cycle, infants\u2019 circadian rhythm also develops to respond to stress. When stress is perceived, a cycle starts that releases <strong><em>cortisol<\/em><\/strong>, a stress hormone that provides a boost of stored energy to help the body get through the stressor. The extra boost helps the individual deal with the stressor through the fight or flight response.<\/p>\n<p>Stressors are not always extreme or intense in nature.<\/p>\n<p>For example, infants often show distress when crying and fidgeting during a diaper change, when overstimulated, or when hungry or sleepy. Every interaction and change in an infant\u2019s day can be a stressor and can lead to a cortisol response that helps prepare the body to respond to stress.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Optimal sleep (i.e., sleeping sufficiently and soundly through the night) at eight months was associated with higher learning and language skills at 14 months.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Cortisol becomes unhealthy when it is repeatedly released and remains elevated. Such elevated levels have been linked to poor learning and functioning, suggesting that too much cortisol may harm brain development.<\/p>\n<p>In adults, cortisol levels are typically high in the morning, decrease steadily over the day, and are low at night as sleep approaches. Infants are thought to mimic the adult day-night cortisol circadian rhythm; however, few studies have explored the relation between infants\u2019 cortisol and sleep cycles.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_infant_sleep_and_cortisol_relate_to_later_language_and_learning_skills\"><\/span><strong>Do infant sleep and cortisol relate to later language and learning skills?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We conducted a <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.infbeh.2022.101700\">study<\/a> to better understand if infants\u2019 quality of sleep relates to their later language development and overall learning abilities. The infants were White and from middle-class families, and they attended a high-quality childcare program in a southeastern state in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>When babies reached eight months and again at 14 months, parents answered questions related to their infants\u2019 sleep routine, sleep environment, and the quality and quantity of their babies\u2019 sleep.<\/p>\n<p>At both time points, the child care provider completed assessments of the infant\u2019s communication and language skills (e.g., nods head to indicate yes, uses sounds\/words to get attention) and learning and cognitive skills (e.g., imitates, looks, or points to an object when asked where it is).<\/p>\n<p>To begin to explore the role of cortisol levels in the connection between sleep and learning in the early years, we also collected morning saliva from the babies at both time points.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infants_with_better_night_sleep_had_better_language_and_cognitive_abilities_as_toddlers\"><\/span><strong>Infants with better night sleep had better language and cognitive abilities as toddlers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In our study, we asked whether babies who had regular sleep routines and good nighttime sleep developed better language and learning\/cognitive skills than babies with irregular sleep routines and poor nighttime sleep.<\/p>\n<p>We found that optimal sleep (i.e., sleeping sufficiently and soundly through the night) at eight months was associated with higher learning and language skills at 14 months. These findings suggest that achieving good quality and quantity of sleep before the first birthday may relate to young infant\u2019s later <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/cognitive-development-language\/\">language development and overall learning<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20180\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20180\" class=\"wp-image-20180 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-1024x656.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-356x228.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-700x449.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hessam-nabavi-ULU4auyoHkU-unsplash-50x32.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/ULU4auyoHkU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hessam nabavi<\/a>. Unsplash.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Higher_morning_cortisol_stress_hormone_levels_related_to_better_toddler_sleep\"><\/span><strong>Higher morning cortisol stress hormone levels related to better toddler sleep<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We also looked at whether morning cortisol stress hormone levels of 14-month-olds were related to sleep at the same age. We found that toddlers who had optimal night sleep also had the highest morning cortisol stress hormone levels.<\/p>\n<p>In adults, cortisol levels tend to be higher shortly after waking. Thus, the higher cortisol levels in toddlers may indicate more mature brain development in toddlers who had better nighttime sleep.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleep_enhances_early_brain_development\"><\/span><strong>Sleep enhances early brain development <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Our findings showed that optimal sleep in infancy was associated with better language and learning skills in toddlerhood. These results are consistent with the idea that sleep enhances early brain development.<\/p>\n<p>One explanation for why sleep helps an infant\u2019s brains develop is that sleep triggers the release of brain chemicals, or <strong><em>neurotransmitters<\/em><\/strong>, that build and strengthen the brain\u2019s pathways for forming memories of information an infant learned that day.<\/p>\n<p>Good sleep also prepares infants to learn the next day. Young infant\u2019s learning opportunities typically occur through daytime interactions. When infant&#8217;s have slept well, they may wake up more relaxed and ready to engage.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, infants who have not slept well may awaken sluggish, irritable, and less ready to socialize and learn. Because sleep is important for solidifying past learning and preparing <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/adverse-childhood-experiences-of-fathers-impacts-parenting\/\">children<\/a> to learn even more, caregivers should help infants and toddlers achieve restful, continuous sleep at night.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_parents_support_their_childrens_brain_development\"><\/span><strong>How can parents support their children\u2019s brain development?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Caregivers can help infants achieve restful sleep by establishing routines at home that start at about the same time each day and signal to the baby that nighttime sleep is approaching.<\/p>\n<p>For example, after the last nursing or bottle feeding of the day, parents might use calming strategies to promote greater infant relaxation, such as giving a warm bath, singing a lullaby, reading a quiet story, and providing a massage.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Caregivers should help infants and toddlers achieve restful, continuous sleep at night.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Parents should try to decrease environmental stimulation to help their infant shift from being awake and active to being relaxed and ready for a long sleep. Dark, quiet, screen-free, calm places are considered good sleeping environments for young infants.<\/p>\n<p>If babies wake up during the night, parents can use strategies to help infants self-regulate and fall back asleep. Parents should understand each infant\u2019s unique sleep needs and should not assume that all babies will respond similarly to an evening routine.<\/p>\n<p>For example, infants with health conditions, neurodevelopmental issues, and trauma often have disrupted sleep. Caregivers of these infants may need additional help to learn how to develop effective sleep routines for their infants.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, parents\u2019 sensitivity to young infant&#8217;s individual needs while developing their sleep routines should help babies achieve good, restful sleep at night so that when babies are awake, they are ready to learn and develop new skills.<\/p>\n<p>Good, restful sleep may lead to more mature brain development in the early years, which may be measured by higher morning cortisol levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Babies who sleep well, and sufficiently, through the night may develop better learning and language skills as toddlers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":275,"featured_media":20397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5770,5864],"tags":[46,2,383],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20175"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20175"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21383,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20175\/revisions\/21383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}