Miya Pearson
Sleep and growth are two of a newborn's most important activities. Newborns spend up to 18 hours sleeping each day, and during this time, their bodies produce human growth hormone (HGH) in larger quantities. While the exact nature of the relationship between sleep and growth is not yet fully understood, studies have shown that growth spurts are significantly influenced by sleep. Longer sleep corresponds with greater growth in body length, and peaks in total daily sleep duration and number of sleep episodes are associated with measurable growth spurts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do newborns sleep more when growing? | Yes, studies indicate that babies undergo measurable growth when they are asleep. |
| How much do newborns sleep? | Newborns spend from 16 to 20 hours asleep each day. |
| How does sleep duration compare to adults? | Adults spend at least 7 hours in sleep at night. |
| How does sleep contribute to growth? | During deep sleep, the body produces human growth hormone (HGH) in larger quantities. |
| How does the sleep pattern change with age? | Around 3 months of age, babies start to experience the same 4 distinct sleep cycles as adults and gradually spend less time in REM sleep. |
| How long do growth spurts last? | Growth spurts tend to last anywhere from two days to a week or even a few weeks in some cases. |
| What other changes may occur during growth spurts? | Babies may eat more, be fussier, harder to comfort, or want to be held more often. |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep up to 18 hours a day
Newborns sleep a lot—up to 18 hours a day. While the exact nature of the relationship between sleep and growth is unclear, studies have shown that sleep and growth are linked. During sleep, the body produces human growth hormone (HGH) in larger quantities, which stimulates growth.
The link between sleep and growth is particularly evident in newborns, who experience significant growth spurts in their first year of life. By six months, most newborns will double their birth weight, and by their first birthday, they will typically triple it. This rapid growth requires a lot of energy, which is why newborns sleep so much.
During a growth spurt, a baby's sleep patterns may change, and they may sleep more than usual. However, it's important to note that not all babies sleep more during growth spurts. During a cognitive growth spurt, for example, a baby may sleep less because they are able to do more things. They may stand in their crib instead of sleeping or become fussier and cry more.
In addition to growth spurts, other factors can also affect a newborn's sleep patterns. For example, a baby going through a cognitive growth spurt may be more aware of their surroundings and feel lonely, leading to them wanting to be held more often.
While the link between sleep and growth is well-established, the specific mechanisms behind this relationship are still being studied. It is clear, however, that sleep plays a crucial role in a newborn's development, with both non-REM and REM sleep contributing to their growth and overall health.
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REM sleep is critical to children's development
Sleep is the predominant state at birth, with newborns spending up to 18 hours a day sleeping, compared to the 7 hours adults need. Newborns experience two distinct sleep cycles, with 50% of their sleep being non-REM sleep and the other 50% being REM sleep. By the time they are three months old, babies start to experience the same four distinct sleep cycles as adults and gradually spend less time in REM sleep.
REM sleep is critical to a child's development, playing an important role in healthy brain development and stimulating the areas of the brain essential to learning. During REM sleep, the brain processes new learnings and motor skills from the day, committing some to memory, maintaining others, and deciding which ones to delete. It acts like a "chemical developer" to make traces of experience more permanent and focused in the brain. Young brains go through critical periods of plasticity or remodelling when vision, speech, language, motor skills, social skills, and other higher cognitive functions are developed. REM sleep helps growing brains adjust the strength or number of their neuronal connections to match the input they receive from their environment.
The visual cortex is very sensitive to information during its critical periods of development. If vision is blocked during these stages, problems can occur. Studies have shown that animals experiencing a REM sleep deficit do not develop normal vision, and permanent plastic changes to the visual cortex do not occur.
In addition, REM sleep may be important for the development of other parts of the brain beyond the visual cortex, and its effects may continue throughout a lifetime. There is accumulating data that suggests the amount of sleep a child gets impacts their ability to do well in school. Sleep is critical for memory, learning, and socio-emotional development.
Babies also grow during sleep. During deep sleep, both infant bodies and brains grow. Sleep releases human growth hormone, which stimulates the body to repair and regrow tissues, build muscle and bone, and strengthen the immune system.
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Growth spurts may cause babies to sleep more or less
Sleep and growth are two of the most important aspects of a newborn baby's development. But do newborns sleep more when they are growing?
During a baby's first year, they experience growth spurts on a fairly regular basis, sometimes as often as every few weeks. Most growth spurts last a few days, but they can last for up to a few weeks. During this time, a baby's eating and sleeping patterns may change. While most babies sleep more during growth spurts, some sleep less.
The Science Behind Sleep and Growth
Studies have shown that during deep sleep, both infant bodies and brains grow. This is because sleep releases human growth hormone (HGH), which stimulates tissue repair, muscle and bone growth, and strengthens the immune system. Newborns spend up to 18 hours sleeping compared to adults, who spend at least 7 hours sleeping per night.
The Impact of Growth Spurts on Sleep
The effect of growth spurts on sleep can vary. While some babies sleep more during growth spurts, others may sleep less due to cognitive development. They may become fussier, cry more, or want to be held more often as they adjust to their newfound awareness.
Individual Variations
It is important to note that baby sleeping routines can vary significantly from child to child. Boys and girls also alter their sleep differently during growth spurts, with boys experiencing longer sleep bouts and girls having more sleep bouts.
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Longer sleep corresponds with greater growth in body length
It is a well-known fact that babies sleep a lot, with newborns sleeping up to 18 hours a day, and adults needing only 7-8 hours of sleep. But why do babies sleep so much? Is there a correlation between the amount of sleep a baby gets and their growth?
The Link Between Sleep and Growth
Several studies have found a link between sleep duration and infant growth spurts. The first indication of this link was provided by a 2011 study published in the journal SLEEP, which found that increased napping and longer sleep were associated with growth spurts. The study observed that the children being monitored would start to sleep more and then, within two days, would show measurable growth. The study also found that the probability of a growth spurt increased by 43% for each additional sleep episode and 20% for each additional hour of sleep.
Hormones and Sleep
During deep sleep, both infant bodies and brains grow. This is because sleep releases the human growth hormone (HGH), which is produced in larger quantities when babies sleep. The highest concentration of HGH is released during the third stage of non-REM sleep, which is when the body repairs and regrows tissues, builds muscle and bone, and strengthens the immune system.
Individual Variability
It is important to note that the relationship between sleep and growth is complex and can vary between individuals. For example, the same study found that growing boys experienced longer sleep bouts, while growing girls had more sleep bouts. Additionally, not all growth spurts are preceded by longer sleep, and not all instances of longer sleep are followed by growth spurts.
Practical Implications
Understanding the link between sleep and growth can help parents make sense of their infant's sleep patterns and behaviour. For example, if a baby is sleeping more than usual, it could be a sign that they are going through a growth spurt. This knowledge can provide peace of mind and help parents better support their child's development.
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Sleep is a contributing factor to growth spurts
The exact nature of the relationship between sleep and growth is not fully understood, but studies have shown that the secretion of growth hormones, such as human growth hormone (HGH), increases after sleep onset and during slow-wave sleep. This change in hormonal signals during sleep could stimulate growth, which would support anecdotal reports of "growing pains," where children wake up at night with aching limbs.
Research has also found a significant association between increased sleep duration and the number of sleep episodes with measurable growth spurts in body length. These peaks in total daily sleep duration and the number of sleep episodes tend to occur within 48 hours of the recorded bursts of sleep. Furthermore, the probability of a growth spurt increased by a median of 43% for each additional sleep episode and 20% for each additional hour of sleep.
It is important to note that while most babies sleep more during growth spurts, some may sleep less, especially during cognitive growth spurts. During these periods, babies may be fussier, cry more, or want to be held more often as they adjust to their increased mental awareness.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, studies have shown that newborns tend to sleep more during growth spurts. This is because their bodies produce human growth hormones in larger quantities during sleep.
On average, infants experience an increase of 4.5 hours per day for two days during growth spurts. The probability of a growth spurt increases by 43% for each additional sleep episode and 20% for each additional hour of sleep.
Growth spurts tend to last anywhere from two days to a few weeks.
While most babies sleep more during growth spurts, some sleep less. This may be due to cognitive development, where a baby's increased mental awareness causes them to be fussier, cry a lot, or want to be held more often.
