Study investigates the worrying effect sleep deprivation has on mums of babies

A study carried out by the University of Limerick has established that a link exists between the mothers of children whose infants wake often during the night and mental conditions such as depression and stress.

The research, which was carried out in conjunction with the Government's 'Growing Up in Ireland' study, investigated the sleep patterns of 11,000 infants and the effect it had on their mothers.

The most typical sleep pattern documented was one in which infants would wake occasionally throughout the night, a profile which wasn't said to have a negative effect on the mother.

However 25% of infants, all of whom were 9 months old, were said to exhibit sleeping patterns which have a negative impact on their mums. One third of the mothers in these cases reported existing on seven hours of sleep a night.

Leading the research was Stephen Gallagher from the University of Limerick's Department of Psychology and two members of the University's Graduate Entry Medical School, Aoife Hughes and Ailish Hannigan.
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Commenting on the study, which was the first to explore the subject on such a large scale, Dr. Gallagher said: "Inadequate sleep quantity and quality in infants can have adverse effects on family function, parental stress, as well as marital relationships."

In an attempt to analyse the long-term effect of the problematic sleeping patterns, the infants and mothers involved in the current study will participate again in three years time.