All night long: understanding the world of infant sleep.
An understanding of the complex physiological, neurological and psychological world of the infant is important in order to provide recommendations about the sensitive and consistent care needed for optimal development. However, when it comes to the subject of infant sleep, professional and lay resources are often based on misinformation and misunderstanding of developmental stages and needs. In order to provide a holistic and scientific foundation for understanding infant sleep, this paper outlines normal infant sleep mechanisms, development and patterns as defined by the literature. Biopsychological data is also presented to demonstrate the study of infant stress, attachment and caregiving routines used to engage infants in sleep. This information can be used as a guideline for determining which sleep choices and approaches are healthy for infants and those which discourage optimal development and leave infants and families at risk.
Lauren
L
Porter
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D009769:Object Attachment; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness