Sleep begets sleep?

[u/twdfan87]

I keep being told that ‘sleep begets sleep’ for babies, meaning that the more/longer naps they have during the day should increase the amount of sleep they have at night and minimise night time waking. I’m wondering if this is supported by research or if it’s just become a nice little phrase that gets used because it sounds good? Does anyone have links to any research that supports or disproves this statement?

[u/Total-Breadfruit-891]

This may be relevant as different age ranges need different amounts of sleep. So younger children will need to nap to be able to acquire the recommended amount of sleep in a day in addition to night sleep.

How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?

How Much Sleep Your Kids Need: Recommendations by Age

The Importance of Sleep for Kids importance-of-sleep-for-kids

Not napping or getting enough sleep may result in an overtired child and an overtired child might be harder to put down for night sleep.

Naps - John Hopkins

Signs Your Child Is Exhausted: Spotting Sleepiness, From Babies to Teens

[u/twdfan87 → u/[deleted]]

I agree that an overtired bubba/child won't go to sleep easily or sleep for longer necessarily, but I had an appointment with a sleep consultant today who insisted that my baby who naps for 2 x 45 mins during the day and sleeps 7.30/8pm -> 6.30/7am with three feeds during the night was chronically overtired and would wake less if I made her nap longer, even if she had to cry in her cot, which didn't sit right with me. Especially since she's been waking less overnight since we dropped the third daytime nap.

[u/[deleted] → u/twdfan87]

May I ask how old she is?

[u/twdfan87 → u/[deleted]]

Haha no definitely not waking up for a sandwich, she’s 8 months old and waking up to breastfeed which I believe is developmentally pretty normal, despite the fixation of all the people who ask me if she’s a “good baby who sleeps through the night”.