Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.5K

Association of maternal sleep before and during pregnancy with sleep and developmental problems in 1-year-old infants

Kazushige Nakahara1, Takehiro Michikawa2, Seiichi Morokuma3,4

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Scientific Reports
|June 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal sleep habits before and during pregnancy significantly impact infant sleep and development. Short sleep durations and late bedtimes in mothers were linked to increased sleep disturbances in their 1-year-old children.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal health
  • Infant development
  • Sleep science

Background:

  • Maternal sleep is crucial for pregnancy and postpartum outcomes.
  • Infant sleep and developmental issues can have long-term consequences.
  • Understanding the prenatal influences on infant sleep is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal sleep patterns before and during pregnancy and infant sleep and developmental problems at one year of age.
  • To identify specific maternal sleep characteristics that may increase the risk of infant sleep disturbances and developmental delays.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (103,062 pregnancies).
  • Collected self-reported maternal sleep habits (duration, bedtime) pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy.
  • Assessed infant sleep habits and developmental progress at age 1 year using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).

Main Results:

  • Maternal short sleep duration (<6 hours) and late bedtime before and during pregnancy were associated with increased infant sleep disturbances.
  • Infants of mothers with short sleep (<6 hours) pre-pregnancy showed higher risks of prolonged night waking, reduced total sleep time, and later bedtimes.
  • Subjective maternal sleep quality during pregnancy (e.g., deep sleep, feeling refreshed upon waking) was inversely associated with abnormal infant ASQ scores.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal sleep patterns before and during pregnancy are significant predictors of infant sleep problems.
  • Poor maternal sleep quality during pregnancy may be a protective factor against abnormal infant development.
  • These findings highlight the importance of optimizing maternal sleep for improved infant outcomes.

More Related Videos

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.2K
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.8K

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
404
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
213
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
253
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
237
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
620