Sleep. It refreshes, rejuvenates and restores. Though our bodies are, for the most part, quiet during sleep, there is actually a bustle of activity going on inside us. Getting baby to sleep and having your baby on a regular sleep schedule is so important, that it is worth exploring and discussing.
Not only is a proper and regular sleep schedule vitally important for your baby's health, it also improves mood, function and physical development. Here are five major benefits that regular and sound sleep offer your child:
1. It helps your baby grow strong and develop quick reactions and coordination: studies show that babies who get regular sleep have improved reaction time, better reflexes and even better use of oxygen.
2. It helps keep baby's mood even and happy: obviously, babies get cranky and cry longer and more often when they are tired, and if they are sleep deprived, or on an irregular schedule, they can be very challenging to deal with.
3. It helps with memory function and development: Dr. Nilesh Dave, medical director of the Sleep Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center says "During sleep, your brain will process a lot and turn it into long-term memory," he says. "Memory is a function of what we think sleep does."
4. It keeps baby from falling asleep at times that are not part of the planned schedule: I'm sure every parent has experienced times when their baby fell asleep in the car, or while out somewhere, only to have the baby wake up irritable and still tired. If a baby is well rested, and if the parents plan their activities to accommodate baby's established sleep schedule, then more often than not, the baby will stay awake in the car, etc, because it's during the established non - sleep time.
5. It keeps baby's hormones balanced: Our bodies use sleep to release certain hormones, Dr. Dav
