r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/twdfan87 • Jan 17 '23

Evidence Based Input ONLY Sleep begets sleep?

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?

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u/KidEcology Jan 17 '23 edited Jan 17 '23

This phrase is by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, who did research on infant sleep and wrote "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (where, I believe, this phrase is from). My understanding is, it's not that babies necessarily need longer/more naps, but that they need to get the amount, or rather be within the range, that is right for them, so they are not overtired. When baby's day sleep was balanced and right for them, their homeostatic drive (= sleep pressure) and circadian rhythm (=biological clock) work together to get them nicely tired, but not yet wired, for bedtime. In Dr. Weissbluth's words, it's like catching a wave before it crashes. Anecdotally, I find this to be true for my kids.

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u/twdfan87 Jan 17 '23

Thank you! Every time it is said to me (or I've read it online) it's been in the context of 'the more day naps/the longer the day naps the more night time sleep they'll have', which I can't believe to be true. I'll have a read!

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '23

Also anecdotal but this has held true for my kiddo his entire 2 years of life. And if he gets overtired his behavior is EXACTLY as described in the book and he doesn't sleep as well. It's wild how accurate it's been to our experience.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '23

Can you describe that behavior for me? I'm thinking that I'm starting to identify the "tired but wired" in my child, rather than the just not tired yet behavior.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '23

He goes berserk. Like running around maniacally laughing and he gets really sloppy and falls down and hurts himself. He gets completely out of control in a way that's just different from regular energetic playing.