Mom's Depression and Baby's Health

One of the crucial developmental factors for a baby’s health is sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to cognitive development problems and weight issues.

A new study reveals that mothers who are dealing with depression during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or who are less affluent, run the risk that their child will get less sleep than average during the first six months of its life. Different ethnicities also showed changes in an infant's sleep patterns. African-American infants slept 0.94 fewer hours per day, compared to Caucasian infants. In addition, African-American, Hispanic and Asian infants slept more hours during day naps, but they had fewer hours of sleep at night.

To ensure children get the proper sleep they need, follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASA):
 
—Follow a consistent bedtime routine. Spend 10 to 30 minutes getting your child ready for bed.
—Make sure the bedtime environment is relaxing.  
—Do not let your baby fall asleep while being held, rocked, fed a bottle, or while nursing.
 —Avoid giving your baby any medications, such as cough medicines and decongestants which might have a stimulant in them, at bedtime.

How has dealing with depression affected how you interact with your child? [Science Daily]