UHealth Pediatric Pulmonologist Co-writes Textbook About Infant Sleep
Article Summary
- Dr. Ignacio Tapia co-wrote a book that provides guidance to physicians about infant sleep patterns.
- The book can help physicians who have not been trained in differentiating between normal and problematic infant sleep habits.
- Dr. Ignacio said that, though the book’s primary audience is physicians, parents may benefit from the information, as well.
Infant sleep is a hot topic. In some cases, it’s a rarity.
New parents can struggle with their child’s sleep habits, wondering if they require medical attention. Clinicians can face similar challenges. Emergency room physicians and other generalists may not always know what constitutes normal sleep in a newborn or infant.
A Guide to Infant Sleep
Ignacio Tapia, M.D., chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at UHealth—University of Miami Health System, has co-written a textbook that provides clinicians new insights into sleep issues. Assessment and Treatment of Infant Sleep co-authors are Christopher Cielo, D.O, a pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Liat Tikotzky, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at Ben Gurion University in Israel.
“Up to now, there have not been any clinical reference books exclusively on infant sleep, including medical and behavioral aspects, and it’s been a major gap,” said Dr. Tapia. “Maybe there’s one chapter about babies in a book that’s largely about adults. However, it’s important that clinicians be able to identify if the child is dealing with a medical condition or behavioral issues. How we address these distinctions can have a profound impact on the child and their parents.”
Baby sleep behaviors are widely variable. Some sleep 18 hours a day, some sleep 13. Both are normal. While many children have trouble sleeping at night, that could indicate pathology or it could be smart babies figuring out how to get their needs met.
“We all wake up about once every hour and usually go right back to sleep,” said Dr. Tapia. “However, if a baby is being rocked by a parent and an hour later they are alone in their crib, they may get confused and call out. The parent rocks them some more. The baby gets what it wants but it doesn’t learn how to self-soothe, and that can become a cycle.”
Clinical Tools for Infant Sleep Issues
Built on the latest research and decades of clinical experience, the book describes clinical tools to assess sleep issues in children younger than 2 and new treatments and strategies to overcome behavioral issues in neurotypical and neurodivergent children. While the book is written for clinicians, the authors believe it will ultimately help parents.
“I had a family come in once and the baby looked great, but the parents looked like they hadn’t slept in weeks,” said Dr. Tapia. “Turns out, they were taking the baby for car rides in the middle of the night. The baby was sleeping fine, but the parents were another story.”
The book encourages clinicians to take time to understand each family. Some parents may work from home, others may have three jobs and come home exhausted. Precisely assessing each unique situation leads to personalized care.
“The first couple of years of life are challenging for parents and we want to give them all the support we can,” said Dr. Tapia. “By providing specific information to better assess babies with possible sleep issues, we hope to improve care. If we can rule out a medical condition and advise parents clearly on how to address behavioral issues, that can boost their peace of mind.”
Tags: Dr. Ignacio Tapia, pediatrics, sleep