Link Between Infant Sleep Problems and Mental Health Disorders
Research has shown that there is a link between infants’ and toddlers’ sleep patterns and mental health disorders. Infants and/or toddlers who slept for shorter periods of time, woke frequently, and/or did not go to sleep until later were found to have higher incidences of psychotic experiences and borderline personality disorder during adolescent and teenage years.1 Further, infant sleep problems have been linked to behavioral and emotional problems in toddlers.3
At the same time, a mother’s emotional distress including anxiety, stress, and depression has been found to significantly disrupt infant sleep.2 Infants with mothers with postpartum depression have more night wakings. Problematically, baby’s sleep problems also affect a mother’s mood and emotional distress level because of sleep lost by the mother caring for the child.
All of this information in itself can cause parents stress and concern. First, it is important to note that the studies show increased risk for mental disorders, behavioral and emotional problems. It does not mean that a child with sleep issues will have mental health or other issues. Also, these studies do not say that trouble sleeping causes mental health issues. And we cannot know whether trouble sleeping may be an indicator of mental and/or brain developmental situations which are already there.
How to Help Your Infant Sleep
If you have an infant that has trouble sleeping you probably already know the toll on parents and family. And if you’re reading this blog post you probably want to find out how to help your child and yourself get better sleep. What is known about risk factors for teen mental health is that research shows that infant mental health is a good place to begin. Secure attachment to a parent is critical for infant mental health and self-regulation of emotions which supports mental health in infancy through toddlerhood and beyond. Self-regulation happens with maturation over time with caregivers who help infants and toddlers co-regulate. Children develop the ability to self-regulate at different ages and it may not make sense to withdraw this co-regulation, a caregiver’s responsiveness and proximity, to soon. Co-regulation leads to self-regulation and different individuals develop this ability at different rates.
What should you do if you have a child with sleep problems? First, think about your own mental health and stress level. Could this be affecting your baby? And if so talk to someone and get help. It has been shown that babies who are exposed to high levels cortisol levels prenatally and postpartum develop more behavioral problems and mental problems including sadness and fear. Reducing your stress and anxiety level will always benefit your child.
Second, talk to your child’s pediatrician about possible physical issues that could cause the sleep problems. Get a sleep assessment to see if there is a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Continue to respond with love and care to your child with calm self-regulation, proximity, skin-on-skin, touch, nursing, and other attachment-based strategies that calms your child to reduce trauma and anxiety. Seek out a sleep consultant or clinic for ways to problem solve optimizing the environment for sleep and identify barriers. Thirty percent of infants exhibit excessive crying and sleeping problems. Those problems that extend past six months of age may need assessment.
Mayo Clinic’s tips for helping babies sleep better
- Follow consistent, calming bedtime routine. Bathing, cuddling, singing, listening to quiet music can all set the tone for a quiet, soothing transition to sleep with a defined end point when you leave the room. Start the routine before the baby is overtired.
- But your baby to sleep drowsy, but awake. This way the baby associates the bed with falling asleep.
- Give your baby time to settle down when you put them in the crib. Sometimes they will cry a few minutes before finding a comfortable position for sleep. If crying continues, enter, pat them on the back, offer some soothing words and leave again.
- Try a pacifier. Sucking can be soothing for infants and studies have shown that pacifiers reduce incidences of SIDS.
- Keep night feedings low key. Use dim lighting, soft voices, and calm movements during night time feedings and changings.
- Respect your baby’s sleep preference. Some infants are natural night owls or early birds. Figure out their preferences and try to sway their bedtime to these.
The goal is happy and healthy kids and parents.
In health,
Danielle Older, MSW, LISW-S, CCTP
Danielle is one of our maternal mental health therapists and the founder of River Root Counseling. Her therapeutic style is individual, evidence-based, and unique to best serve each individual client. Danielle will work with you, at your pace, cheering you on and empowering you as you accomplish your therapeutic goals. Danielle values the therapeutic relationship and works to make each session beneficial and helpful for her clients. Danielle is a mother herself and understands the roller coaster that parenting, and motherhood, can sometimes feel like.
Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (Ohio) – I.2002068-SUPV
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Bachelor’s of Social Work – University of Akron
Master’s in Social Work – Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
For information and appointment call River Root at 330-595-4563.
Current clients schedule a consultation here.
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