It’s always ironic to me that I’m usually reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. at around 1-3am. So, as I’m reading about the benefits of good sleep habits / hazards of poor sleep while completely sleep deprived, I can empathize quite well!
I found the following to be fascinating:
“In the same way that we know how much calcium your baby needs for his bones to grow stronger, we know how important healthy sleep is for the growing brain. Calcium deficiency in childhood harms bone development, but the problems of osteoporosis may not show up until much later in adult life. So if your child eats a calcium deficient diet, the problem is “hidden” because there are no immediately apparent ill effects. Likewise, sleep deficiency in childhood may harm neurological development; the problems remain “hidden,” not showing up until later. I think it is possible that unhealthy sleep habits contribute to school-related problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. I also suspect chronically tired children become chronically tired adults who suffer in ways we can’t measure: less resiliency, less ability to cope with life’s stress, less curiosity, less empathy, less playfulness. The message here is simple: Sleep is a powerful modifier of mood, behavior, performance, and personality.”
– Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (1987), page xix
My Personal Experience
As I’m sure other parents have experienced, my oldest child (2.5 years old, as of this writing) has two personalities: 1) the typical 2.5 year old whiny, at times defiant, irritable, challenging child (“Child 1″); and, 2) the endearing, charming, polite, smart, easy child (“Child 2″). I’ve learned that Child 1 is the result of sleep-deprivation and Child 2 is the result of good sleep.
From reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, I was anal about my oldest daughter’s sleep habits until recently. I am convinced that good sleep and a healthy diet are two huge contributors to her being as amazing as she is.
From waking every 2-3 hours throughout the night to nurse my 3.5 month old child, my mental capacity is much more diminished from not only the fewer hours of sleep but also from the interrupted sleep. From the sleep deprivation of nursing my first child, I noticed loss of vocabulary that I never fully recovered!
From my personal experience with sleep deprivation, I can better appreciate reading the following:
It is also possible that severe or chronic sleep deficits occurring early during the period of rapid brain growth might hard-wire circuits to produce permanent effects. This would be difficult to prove, because young children cannot report how they feel and we assume it is “natural” for them to have difficult temperaments, have tantrums, get frustrated, become easily angry, and so forth…
If the brain has been permanently changed due to severe or chronic sleep loss, then, when the naps disappear and school requires more mental vigilance and focused attention, preexisting problems may appear. It is not simply academics that might suffer. We do not know the contribution of healthy childhood sleep towards creativity, empathy, a sense of humor, or adult mental health.
– Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (1987), page 54
Conclusion
Parents, read more about sleep so that you can make more informed choices for your child. I notice such a huge change in myself and in my children when sleep is “perfect” and when it is insufficient. If I had known more about the impacts of good sleep habits on my brain — my quality of life, then I would have made changes for myself a LONG time ago!
