Babies get Less sleep with Mothers

New York, June 6: Usually Mothers won't leave their babies and during bed times they will sing some special songs for babies to sleep quickly. But sharing room with babies beyond the first four months is associated with less sleep and unsafe sleeping practices for children, new research revealed.

Babies who shared a room at four months were more likely to have a blanket, pillow or other unapproved objects that could increase chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the sudden unexplained death of a child less than one year of age, US Researchers found.

Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, Ian Paul, said 'Waiting too long (for room separation) can have negative effects on sleep quality for both parents and infants in both short term and long term.'

Paul added 'Inadequate infant sleep can lead to obesity, poor sleep later in life and can negatively affect parents.

In the study, after analyzing surveys from 279 first mothers, who gave birth at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and their babies.

During 4 months, babies who slept independently in their own room averaged 45 minutes longer stretches of continuous sleep than those who shared a room with a parent.

According to the findings published in the journal Pediatrics 'At 9 months, the gap widened to one hour and 40 minutes.'

Additionally, babies who shared a room were more likely to be moved into their parent's bed overnight at both four and nine months old.