44% of Singapore parents believe their babies have sleep problem

[Maxus-MIFA9]

As reported in CNA : 44% of Singapore parents believe their babies have sleep problem

By Greta Georges, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 October

 

SINGAPORE: An international study has found that 44 per cent of Singapore parents believe their babies have a sleep problem, while in Caucasian countries, less than one quarter feel the same way.

 

A study of over 1,000 local infants shows their average bedtime is at 9.38pm, compared to those in predominantly Caucasian countries, who sleep at 8.51pm.

 

But Singapore babies are early risers - waking up at 6am, earlier than babies anywhere else.

 

This means they get 40 minutes less sleep a day than their Caucasian counterparts, after factoring in daytime naps.

 

Paediatrics professor from the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr Jodi Mindell, suggests three golden rules.

 

She said, "We want parents to be putting their babies to bed early, we want them having a bedtime routine and we want them to help their babies fall asleep independently."

 

And this means not rocking or nursing babies to sleep, even when they wake up at night, so they will learn to fall asleep on their own.

 

Dr Mindell said, "We found that 3 out of 4 babies in Singapore are sleeping in their parents' room, though not all are sleeping in their parents' bed. Those babies who fall asleep independently, no matter in their parents' bed or a separate room, are going to sleep better at night."

 

Dr Mindell is the leader of a global study by the Asia Pacific Paediatric Sleep Alliance and Johnson & Johnson.

 

Sleep is a natural biological need and is especially important for babies in their formative first years, and babies may get cranky, irritable and accident prone if they do not get enough sleep.

 

Establishing a bedtime routine goes a long way, say experts.

 

Bathing, massaging or reading and cuddling can help babies stay 20 per cent longer in continuous sleep and help cut babies' night awakenings by half.

 

 

Hmmm....... something to ponder about.......

 

Our babies have sleep problems.......