Sleep is important for babies and children as growth and development take place during this time. Food is converted into energy and muscle tissue develops during sleep. Growth hormone is activated during sleep – when parents swear their child has grown in the night they are often right!
Proteins which help the immune system to fight off infections are produced during sleep. Additionally, adequate sleep has been shown to reduce the number of injuries suffered (children become more clumsy when they have too little sleep). Sufficient sleep also boosts children’s attention spans and helps learning.
Importantly, sleep enables both baby and mother to function well as a unit, to enjoy each other’s company and to have fun socially.