When you sleep, your brain releases growth hormone.
It promotes the development of muscles, bones, and internal organs and helps them grow. If you don't get enough sleep, you won't be able to repair damaged cells and maintain your body.
During sleep, the brain selects only the information that is necessary and erases the unnecessary. Sleep is very important for "organizing memories" and "maintaining the mind."
Sleep Development
Based on the rhythm of daily life after birth, babies develop an internal clock that allows them to adapt to society by around the age of two.
A baby's daily rhythm will gradually change and become closer to that of an adult. Similarly, the times and contents of meals, sleep, and play will also change. Mom and Dad can help their baby learn regular habits through their own daily routine and small actions.
What is healthy sleep?
Early to bed, early to rise
The basis of healthy sleep is to go to bed early and get up early. This is important not only for establishing a regular rhythm in your life, but also for improving the quality of your sleep.
Falling asleep easily
Healthy children fall asleep quickly after getting into bed. The average time it takes for 2-5 year olds to fall asleep is 13 minutes. The average time for adults (20-50 years old) is said to be 32 minutes, so you can see how quickly children fall asleep.
Sufficient sleep
When a baby is a newborn, they alternate between sleeping and breastfeeding, but they spend most of their time sleeping, so they sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. As they grow, the time they are awake gradually increases, but it is said that most babies who have passed the newborn stage still need to sleep 13 to 15 hours. Gradually, they will spend more time awake during the day and sleep at night. During this period, it is important to get into the habit of going to bed early and getting up early, and getting a good night's sleep. Your goal should be to be in bed by 8 p.m. at the latest.
Deep sleep
The deepest sleep rate is 15-25% for children aged 2-5 years old. The average rate for adults aged 50 years old is 2%, so you can see how much deep sleep children get. During deep sleep, a lot of growth hormone, which is essential for physical development, is secreted. This secretion peaks between 10pm and 2am, so it's important to support your child in getting a good night's sleep.
Sleep characteristics by age
Reference: Sleep Guidelines for Preschool Children, Ehime University Hospital Sleep Medicine Center, 2018
Neonatal period
The sleep time is 16 to 20 hours, and the sleep pattern is repeated 1 to 2 hours of wakefulness and 1 to 4 hours of sleep. There is no day-night rhythm, and the amount of sleep during the day and at night is almost the same. During this period, falling asleep begins with active sleep (equivalent to later REM sleep).
Infancy (3 months)
Sleep duration shortens slightly to 14-15 hours, with babies sleeping 3-4 hours in a row. Active sleep (REM sleep) decreases, and from 6 weeks to 3 months of age, babies begin to fall asleep through non-REM sleep.
Infancy (6 months)
The sleep time is 13-14 hours, and the baby will sleep for 6-8 hours straight, and the distinction between day and night will become clear. The baby will take 1-2 2-4 hour naps, and by around 9 months of age, 70-80% of the time will be spent sleeping at night.
Infancy (1-3 years)
Sleep time will be about 11-12 hours, and you will sleep almost all night. Naps will also be reduced to one nap of 1.5-3.5 hours each day. REM sleep will decrease even further.
Early childhood (ages 3-6)
Sleep duration is 10 to 11 hours, daytime naps decrease even more, and many children stop taking naps around age 5. Electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns show that non-REM and REM sleep cycles last about 90 minutes, similar to adults, and the proportion of REM sleep decreases even further.
lastly
A baby's sleep is very important. Some moms and dads may think, "It's impossible to get my child to sleep between 7 and 8 p.m.", but it is a big problem if a child's sleep schedule becomes irregular. The birth of your baby is a good opportunity for parents and children to try to get regular sleep.
