If you have not already done so, please read Blog Posts 1 through 5 that describe how sleep is important and beneficial. I will post specific information for parents and children based on my book, “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.” Please do not be put off by my book’s length. This is a reference book. Read only the topic of interest to you.
Young children who have healthy sleep tend to seek healthy sleep as teens and adults (Blog Posts starting at 242 and 243). because they remember how good it feels to be well-rested. I asked some former patients whether there were carry-over effects for their own children, the next generation.
Q: “Your parents received advice from me regarding sleep beginning when you were a baby and my question is whether or not you are more attentive to or more successful than your peers regarding healthy sleep in your own child or children. In other words, do you think that my attempts to educate your parents about your sleep when you were growing up might have any carry-over effect on the next generation, your own child or children?”
Nancy
“Growing up, Dr. Weissbluth was my pediatrician, and my parents closely followed his guidance on healthy sleep habits for me and my three siblings. I always believed that sleep played the most significant role in my mood and overall health. Now, as a parent to a 14-month-old son, I’ve adopted the same principles from Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and Dr. Weissbluth’s blog. Despite being born six weeks premature, my son was sleeping 10 consecutive hours at night by 10 weeks old and 12 hours by 12 weeks. I frequently recommend Dr. Weissbluth’s book to my friends who are moms.
My husband and I are deeply committed to fostering healthy sleep habits for our son by recognizing his sleepy cues and maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, with my husband taking the lead at bedtime. Ensuring our son sleeps through the night has been a priority for both his well-being and ours as parents.
My parents instilled the importance of an early bedtime, a habit I’ve carried into adulthood at age 30. I also prioritize my own sleep, aiming for 8–9 hours each night.
Dr. Weissbluth’s advice, such as “sleep begets sleep,” “never wake a sleeping child,” and “put the baby to bed drowsy but awake,” has been pivotal in our approach.”
“I am 30 years old.
How old was he when you began to think about helping him sleep well? “He was in the NICU for 4 weeks. I would say at his 5th week.”
I have a newfound appreciation to my parents’ emphasis on sleep growing up. I resonate with the idea that sleep aids in recovery, healing, and growth. I will always remember my mom’s advice (learned from Dr. Weissbluth) that sleep begets sleep. If I find my son is cranky or waking up before 7:00am, I set him down 30 minutes earlier than usual and he will sleep until 7:00am.
My husband was very supportive, and we were aligned. My Father and siblings very supportive – with both having very similar / identical philosophies on sleep. Upon returning home from his NICU stay, Henry slept in our room for 3 days maximum. I did not breastfeed and only pumped. The majority of my peers are surprised with how well Henry sleeps compared to their own children. They do not practice methods like Dr. Weissbluth’s.
I used to have a general anxiety about how much I sleep (and still do at times). For example, as a child, if I had 10 hours of sleep one night, I would “borrow” hours from previous nights to make myself feel better. If I know I have an early flight, I tend to get anxious about my lack of sleep even before the travel day arrives. My 23 and Me results said that my natural wake up time was 8:48am. In contrast, my sister’s natural wake up time according to 23 and Me was 7:10am. I do believe that I require more sleep than the average person. At times, I prioritize sleep more than my workouts (i.e. I tell myself it’s healthier to sleep than wake up early to workout).
I was not working for the first 7 months of his life. I worked from home from age 8 months – 13 months. Back in the office for month 14.”
