Kids' Sleep and Parents' Health

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Sleep problems in babies, toddlers, and preschool kids are common. So are mental health problems, such as depression, in parents. Postpartum depression in mothers gets the most attention, but when a mother is depressed, up to 50 percent of fathers will be as well. And depression is not restricted to the postpartum period. It's also common among preschool parents. What is the link between kids' sleep and parents' health? We know that sleep problems in children can lead to depression in mothers, which can improve as the child's sleep improves. A study of about 10,000 Australian infants and preschool children and their families was published in the May 2007 Pediatrics. The results showed a clear connection between poor sleep in the children and general health issues in both mothers and fathers (as well as specific mental health issues in mothers), even after taking into account other risk factors for these health problems. The authors conclude that solving children's sleep problems can help improve mothers. mental health and the general health of both parents. This makes sense to me, and is worth making a priority. It also makes sense to me that parents. addressing their own physical health issues may help their children to sleep better. The study shows a link, but does not show which causes which. I suspect that they both affect each other, in what can be an upward or downward spiral. Each step forward could have rippling positive effects.

What's your experience? What would you recommend to other parents?


Martin, J., Hiscock H., Hardy, P., Davey, B., and Wake, M. "Adverse Associations of Infant and Child Sleep Problems and Parent Health: An Australian Population Study." Pediatrics. May 2007, 119, pp. 947-955.
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Comments

Anonymous's picture
Danielle Cole

I have 3 children, my two

I have 3 children, my two older childeren are boys and didn't have problems with night time. I have now got a girl of 9 weeks old, she has decided that she does not like the night time she feed from me for about 3-4 hours and wakes every two hours, i am so tired and the boys are not understanding and are constantly on the go. I need to know if there is anything i can do to encorrage a longer sleep in the night. We have no lights on and we are very quiet, please please help.....
Anonymous's picture
Danielle R.

We have been co-sleeping with

We have been co-sleeping with 7 month old Isabella and she DOES sleep, but there are still two concerns. A.) I have difficulty finding a comfortable position to fall asleep & B.) She prefers sleeping on her belly - when put on her back for naps alone she's awake within 2.5 minutes. I am becoming irritable & frustrated, but it sounds like other parents are getting far less sleep than I.
Anonymous's picture
Karen Elder

Sleep deprevation is a plague

Sleep deprevation is a plague that those who don't experience it can not understand. My 7 o. old still wakes through the night 3 or 4 times, and although we have been doing the "soothe her to sleep method" Dr. Greene outlines on his site.. progress is slow. It has been over 3 months of trying this. I relate with the depression and irritability and can say it is effecting my parenting and social skills. I hoped this sleep problem would be resolved with our steadfast approach but am feeling little hope. I think he knows now that we will be in there to pat her back and she just waits us out. HELP!
Anonymous's picture
SnowWhite

I know first hand how

I know first hand how difficult sleep deprivation can be. My second baby had colic for 9 months. I was miserable, grumpy, irritable, depressed, and I was pregnant, with my third (who was born 9 months 10 days after my second) so the fatigue of pregnancy didn't help either. On my husbands days off he'd let me sleep in or nap as needed and it helped a lot. I just kept telling myself "It will get better" - and it does.
Anonymous's picture
Lara Descartes

Co-sleeping is wonderful. My

Co-sleeping is wonderful. My daughter is 11 mos. old and once her first week was past, I never felt sleep-deprived. People would ask me how I was coping with the loss of sleep that comes with having a baby, but I was actually better rested than before I had her (I used to have insomnia). I think parental sleep-deprivation is mostly cultural since we're not a co-sleeping culture in general. But if the baby is in a crib, you have to get up to get to her. If the baby is with you, especially if he's breastfeeding, you barely have to wake up. And, baby feels all secure and may not wake up as frequently anyway. I've noticed my daughter wakes up about once every hour and a half until I go to bed. Once I'm in bed, she sleeps through until morning. There are lots of books and articles and online info. on safe co-sleeping.