Columbia University researchers published a 2010 study in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" that shows that infants can learn while asleep. Thus, neonates must get adequate sleep to properly develop. Part of establishing good sleep habits is establishing routines, which includes eating the appropriate foods at the right time. Although no investigation has specifically tested the effects of different baby foods on infant sleep, there are studies focusing on food ingredients that promote sleep.
Tryptophan
Typtophan is an essential amino acid obtained only through the diet, and it is believed that ingesting tryptophan as a pill or eating foods like oats, dates and chocolate may affect sleep. A 1992 University of Illinois study in the "Journal of Nutrition" supports this speculation. Formula-fed babies have lower tryptophan levels than breastfed infants, so researchers added varying levels of tryptophan to formulas and found that babies ingesting the higher levels of trytophan were able to get to sleep more quickly than those with the lower levels.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone released nightly by the pineal gland. This hormone serves as a trigger for nighttime sleep. Enhancing internal melatonin levels with the oral intake of melatonin pills or foods rich in the hormone may increase sleep. These foods include corn, rice and bananas. Certain spices, like ginger, also contain melatonin. A 2007 experiment conducted at Muenster University Hospital in Germany and published in "Neuropediatrics" used melatonin to induce sleep in infants requiring brain scans rather than using anesthesia. These results suggest that melatonin facilitates natural sleep even under challenging circumstances.
Carbohydrates
According to Dr. Hatem Eleishi, carefully regulating the protein-carbohydrate balance of meals before going to bed affects sleep quality. He recommends carbohydrate-rich evening snacks to facilitate sleep. Sleep-promoting items include crackers, bagels and pretzels. Physicians at Mahidol University in Bangkok published a 2000 investigation in the "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand" that tested this hypothesis in infants with poor sleep habits. They gave children a rice starch in their formula and found that they slept better than children receiving their normal formula. Eating carbohydrates prior to bedtime may help sleeping habits in infants.
Calcium
Eleishi also recommends food rich in calcium to promote sleep. Calcium is a mineral present in foods like milk, cheese and yogurt. Calcium helps the brain use typtophan to create melatonin. These chemicals promote sleep, so increasing calcium also fosters sleep. Unfortunately, many infants exhibit calcium deficiency. A 2001 National Dairy Council-sponsored review published in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" notes that poor diets are contributing to low calcium levels in Americans. Healthy food choices offer the best way to enjoy calcium's benefits.
References
- "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences"; Newborn Infants Learn During Sleep; W. P. Fifer, et a.; May 17, 2010
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Tryptophan Intake Influences Infants' Sleep Latency; L. A. Steinberg, et al; September 1992
- "Neuropediatrics"; Melatonin Is a Useful Alternative to Sedation in Children Undergoing Brainstem Audiometry with an Age Dependent Success Rate--A Field Report of 250 Investigations; C. M. Schmidt, et al; February 2007
- "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand"; A Rice Starch Added Follow-On Formula for Infants with Sleeping Difficulty; P. Jirapinyo, et al; June 2000
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; The Importance of Meeting Calcium Needs with Foods; G. D. Miller, et al; April 2001
