Before anyone becomes a new parent, it is like they’ll hear “sleep when the baby sleeps” quite a few times. While this well-meaning advice is meant to remind parents to try and rest as much when possible, it’s also not necessarily easy to follow through with – especially if your little one isn’t sleeping very well.
There are a number of reasons why babies don’t sleep well but one of the main culprits is stomach issues. David Naidu, General Manager, FrieslandCampina Singapore says “Studies have shown that there is a positive link between sleep and digestive health. Parents may not be aware of this connection between good sleep and good digestion, and we want to help parents take charge of their child’s wellbeing.”
“One thing I learnt when my children were babies, is that a happy tummy equates to longer stretches of sleep at night,” says Suhanna Ab, founder and creative director of local children’s brand Maison Q who recently collaborated with FRISO on a limited edition, set of pyjamas emphasising the importance of good sleep (and good poop!). “The amount and frequency of their milk had to balance with their intake of solids. Once I hit the right spot, they started sleeping for much longer. I was lucky this strategy worked out for all three kids. All of them, including the baby, sleep between 9 to 10 hours each night.”
“Another thing I want for them is good digestion. Tummy aches are mean disruptors of good sleep. As a busy parent this is something I really do not want in my home,” adds Suhana. “Prevention is key so as much as I can, I try to ensure that they eat proper meals on time and consume less of the junk food. From my experience, this influences the type and duration of sleep they have at night.”
To find out how else sleep and digestion can be improved together, we spoke to paediatrician and sleep specialist Dr Petrina Wong for more tips.