Babies who exercise sleep better, new study shows

Parents of babies who don’t sleep well have been offered a simple solution, thanks to the latest research.

Olivia Weston with her six-month-old daughter Liana, who loves being on the floor doing tummy-time exercises. Picture: Adam Head

THEY may not be able to walk, but babies need to work out several times a day, according to scientists.

Exercise on a mat can work wonders for parents with children who don’t sleep well at night, new research has revealed.

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Michigan State University research says babies who are less active get less sleep.

The study, published in the journal Infant Behavior and Development, is one of the first to focus on the connection between common health behaviours in babies.

Assistant professor of kinesiology Janet Hauck, who specialises in infant motor intervention research, said: “We know physical activity and sleep influence each other and are strongly associated with growth in older children and adults.

“Our findings suggest that this association could emerge as early as infancy, a critical developmental period.”

The professor’s study centred around the effect physical activity, such as supervised tummy time, has on six month old babies as they grow and develop. Weight and length were also measured.

“Babies who slept less over all in the 24 hours and had the least amount of night-time sleep had more overnight feedings and were significantly less active during the day,” Prof Hauck said.

She also indicated that infants who slept longer than 12 hours a day had a better weight-for-length score, around the 53rd percentile, than those who slept less than 12 hours and weighed more.

“Parents can make 12 hours of sleep or more a priority for their baby by creating a bedtime routine and being consistent with it,” she said.

“While their little one is awake, they should encourage physical activity by interacting with their baby during floor time activities and do supervised tummy time several times a day.”

The Gold Coast’s Liana Weston is a good night sleeper, and mum says the six month old loves being on the floor rolling around and pushing herself up.

“She really does tire herself out,” mum Olivia said.