Can Poor Sleep Make My Baby Obese?

There is a lot of evidence that poor sleep causes weight problems for adults and kids. And two recent studies hint the same is true in infancy.

Obesity Risk and Poor Sleep in Infants

In the first study, Penn State researchers found that breastfed babies whose parents used the 5 S’s (along with some other general parenting tips) slept longer. And the better-sleeping kids had less obesity at 1 year of age if the mums also followed a simple dietary plan (not to give foods before 6 months and to comfort fussing with a cuddle before giving a feed).

In the second study, a Harvard team found a 100% higher risk of being overweight among 3-year-olds who slept less than 12 hours a day during infancy (at 6, 12 and 24 months of age.) This study also found an even higher risk of obesity among kids who watched over two hours of telly per day).

If you are concerned about your baby’s weight, talk to your healthcare provider. While there are several factors that may contribute to obesity, because good sleep is so vital to our overall health, it is worth doing what we can to make sure babies get the rest they need...that includes using techniques like the 5 S’s or even a device like SNOO Smart Sleeper.

Descargo de responsabilidad: La información en nuestro sitio NO es un consejo médico para ninguna persona o condición específica. Solo se proporciona como información general. Si tiene alguna pregunta o preocupación médica sobre su hijo o sobre usted mismo, por favor contacte a su proveedor de salud. La leche materna es la mejor fuente de nutrición para los bebés. Es importante que, en preparación para la lactancia y durante la misma, las madres lleven una dieta saludable y equilibrada. La combinación de lactancia materna y alimentación con biberón en las primeras semanas de vida puede reducir la producción de leche materna y es difícil revertir la decisión de no amamantar. Si decide utilizar fórmula infantil, debe seguir las instrucciones cuidadosamente.