Sofia Axelrod is a neuroscientist specialized in sleep, and is currently an assistant to Michael Young, the Nobel laureate who discovered sleep cycles in 2017. Her research led her to develop a "method" to help babies sleep, and she tells it in his book How Babies Sleep? (Uranus).
She studied at the Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, and the Humboldt University of Berlin, where she received her PhD in biology in 2012. “Her passion for sleep science and personal experience as a mother of two inspired her to apply her knowledge about the circadian cycles in a practical method to help the little ones to sleep”, they say from the editorial.
- Can babies be “taught” to sleep?
Yes absolutely. Sleep is a skill, and very young babies need help to calm their bodies enough to fall asleep. That's a crucial skill, because otherwise the mother, father or caregiver has to fill that role, sometimes even with school-age children.
Another aspect that we can "teach" the body of babies are circadian rhythms. By making day very different from night, we teach babies the differences between night and day, and that night is for sleep.
Why is your method different from others?
As a mother, I realized that much of the advice on baby sleep conflicts with my knowledge of sleep science and chronobiology, so I developed my own guidelines to help my baby, and myself, sleep.
What does it mean that humans, including babies, have a total 24-hour sleep need, so daytime sleep negatively affects nighttime sleep?
Each of us has a specific daily sleep requirement, which is determined both genetically and by age. Babies need more sleep than adults, and their need for sleep decreases rapidly from birth: newborns sleep about 20 hours a day, 1-year-olds only 12-13 hours; and adults, around 8 hours.
For babies, sleep pressure (how quickly they fall asleep) increases much faster than it does for older children or adults, which is why they need to nap.
Research shows that nap length and nighttime sleep are connected: the longer children nap, the less they sleep at night. That's why it's important to make sure naps aren't too long, so baby has enough sleep pressure to get a good night's sleep.
What do parents go wrong most often at bedtime?
That going to bed earlier will help with night sleep. That doesn't make sense, just because we have a total daily sleep need of 24 hours, so going to bed earlier means fewer hours left to sleep at night. If the night's sleep was fine and is getting worse, the solution is to change your bedtime: later, not earlier.
What role does light play when it comes to falling asleep?
All parents should use the light, because it is a very easy tool to help babies sleep better, from day one. Babies' bodies are very sensitive to the effects of light, and they will wake up even in dim light during the night or morning.
To avoid this, keep the room where the baby sleeps completely dark by using dark curtains, and as a night light use only red light, since that is the only light that will not wake the baby.
How does the relationship between light and sleep change with age and what about the fear of the dark?
As babies grow, they often develop a fear of the dark. This is another situation where the use of a red night light is crucial to preserving your sleep at night. I recommend getting red light bulbs.
What do you think of "sleep trainers"?
Sleep coaches help many families, but the advice isn't always based on science. My approach is to put scientific knowledge in the hands of caregivers, so that they develop an understanding to lastingly improve their children's sleep.
How long should a baby sleep?
Axelrod says that "how long should my son sleep?" is the question you hear most often from new parents.While there are very few one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to children, it does ensure that any healthy baby needs a set number of hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. include both daytime and nighttime sleep.
The hours can be divided up however you like, but of course it is preferable to have the majority during the night to help your baby sleep well.
As your child gets older, they will need to transition between the different stages. The best way to transition your baby's schedule is in 15-minute increments each week, until he's into the next stage.
Any advice for tired moms and dads with kids who are intermittent sleepers? "Do not give up! You don't have to feel tired and miserable. There are scientifically proven ways to ensure that your child sleeps through the night and that you can get your life back. Review the baby's total sleep need – it may have decreased and you may need to adjust her naps and bedtimes to maximize nighttime sleep.”
