Baby sleep is a topic that can be confusing and stressful for parents, with many misconceptions floating around. From the idea that babies should sleep through the night by six months to the belief that motion naps aren't restorative, these five myths can cause unnecessary stress for parents. Let's explore the truth behind these common misconceptions and provide some clarity for new parents.
Myth 1: Most babies sleep through the night
It's a common misconception that most babies sleep through the night by six months. However, large studies of young children show that this is not the case. In fact, nearly seven in 10 six-month-olds wake at least once per night, while more than one in four 18-month-olds do. The Finnish study found that, on average, babies that were three, six, or eight months old woke more than twice per night; 12-month-olds woke 1.8 times per night; and 18- and 24-month-olds woke around once per night. These studies were based on parental report, and when more objective measures of sleep are used, such as video recordings, they indicate that infants wake even more often.
Myth 2: Night wakes are always 'normal'
Sometimes, you hear that children will continue to wake at night until they're taught not to. But this dismisses the fact that typically developing infants consolidate their sleep over time on their own. It also overlooks any underlying health conditions that can impact sleep. Iron deficiency, for example, can cause frequent night wakes, restlessness, and difficulty falling asleep in infants. Many other conditions have been linked to unsettled sleep or frequent wakes in babies and small children, including food allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and ear infections. Then there are sleep disorders themselves, such as obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause frequent wakes, with a peak between two to six years old.
Myth 3: 12 hours of sleep per night is quite a lot for most infants
Google 'baby sleep schedule' online, and you might notice a theme: most will suggest that infants sleep about 12 hours per night. However, this is not the case for most infants. In fact, one Australian study of 5,000 babies found that children from infancy up to almost five years of age slept 11 hours overnight on average, not 12. Even in societies that tend to idealise 7-7 sleep, recommendations from sleep health associations indicate that a 12-hour night would be on the higher end of the spectrum.
Myth 4: On-the-go naps are 'restorative'
It's common to see claims online that motion naps – like being in a pram, carried in a sling, or driving in a car – keep babies in a light, less restorative type of sleep. However, there's no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, some research indicates the opposite may be true. A study of 64 two-month-olds found that the babies were more likely to fall asleep and less likely to cry when they were rocked at higher (but still gentle) frequencies. Rocking even promotes sleep in mice.
Myth 5: Sleep does not 'breed sleep'
It is true that, when some babies get too tired, they get more aroused and stressed – which can make it harder for them to settle at night. However, the idea that the more sleep a child gets during the day, the more sleep they'll get at night, isn't usually borne out by the research. In fact, in older toddlers and preschoolers, most studies have found it goes the other way: after two years of age, children take longer to fall asleep at night, and wake more overnight, on days they nap.
In conclusion, these five myths about infant sleep can cause unnecessary stress for parents. It's important to remember that sleep needs are individual and variable, and infants can't be coaxed to get more sleep than their bodies need.
