The 1st study of its kind measuring the link between daily growth and sleep show the two are inextricably linked. Details are reported in the journal Sleep.
Specifically, growth spurts are tied to an increase in total daily hours of sleep as well as an increase in the number of daily sleep bouts, the time from the onset of sleep until awakening.
“Little is known about the biology of growth spurts,” says Michelle Lampl, the study’s lead author and professor of anthropology at Emory University.
The first study of its kind measuring the link between daily growth and sleep show the two are inextricably linked. Details are reported in the journal Sleep.
Specifically, growth spurts are tied to an increase in total daily hours of sleep as well as an increase in the number of daily sleep bouts, the time from the onset of sleep until awakening.
The study helps parents understand that irregular sleep behavior is a normal part of growth and development. “These findings give babies a voice that helps parents understand them and show that seemingly erratic sleep behavior is a normal part of development. Babies really aren’t trying to be difficult,” says Michelle Lampl. (Credit: iStockphoto)
