The Cycle of Sleep Deprivation
What does sleep deprivation lead to?
Here is how the cycle usually starts, naturally develops, and how it impacts your babies.
Babies wake up too early:
When babies wake up before the end of the sleep cycle, they aren’t getting into deep sleep. This is the part of their sleep cycle where memories are stored, and the body and brain really get to rest. This part of sleep is essential for learning and development. Also, if they wake up after 1 sleep cycle, they might not get the adequate amount of sleep they actually need. Learning to link sleep cycles is important to ensure babies get all the sleep they need within a 24h period.
2. Babies aren’t eating well:
Sleep regulates our appetite. When babies don’t sleep well, they won’t eat well either. They tend to eat little, and frequently. This leads to an overstimulated digestive system, and makes them gassy. Because they don’t take full feeds, they get hungry quickly, which makes it harder for them to sleep well. When babies sleep well, they take full feeds and have all the energy they need to play and learn.
3. Babies struggle to focus on play:
Fatigue makes it very hard to concentrate. Overtired babies don’t have a long attention span, and they quickly lose interest in play. Because sleep is a biological need, it overrides secondary functions such as concentration and learning.
4. Babies get frustrated easily, and AREN’T engaging with people and play:
Sleep also regulates our mood. When babies are tired, their threshold for irritation and challenges is very low. This means that everything becomes too much very quickly. So, persisting with a task when playing, waiting to get assistance or picked up, loud noises, and physical discomfort - all become heightened and magnified. Babies will then find it hard to have positive and fun interactions with people, and play will not be very appealing.
5. Babies get tired early, and it’s harder to settle them to sleep:
Babies struggle to stay awake for the entire wake window, and want to go to sleep earlier. By this point, babies are overtired. Overtired babies produce cortisol, the stress hormone, which makes it harder to settle them to sleep, and prevents them from entering deep sleep. Once babies are settled to sleep (whether they took a long time to settle or not), they tend to wake up too early due to over-tiredness.
And the cycle repeats...
Sleep consultation can help you and your babies break the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation.
I will work with you to help your babies sleep better and longer so they can make the most of their wake time, eat well, play, and learn.
Because when babies sleep well, their whole day improves, and they can enjoy everything they do that much more!
If you want to know more about twin sleep consultation, you can download my “Parents' Guide to Twin Sleep Consultation”.
Find more free sleep guides and tips here.
If you want to find out how I can help your babies break the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation, book a free discovery call below, or book a sleep consultation package today.