Such a great topic.... one I love because who doesn’t love being outside on a sunny day?
But how does it benefit sleep for our little ones?
✅ Sunlight aids in the production of a beautiful little happy hormone called Seratonin. This hormone boosts feelings of happiness, calmness and security and helps regulate sleep and digestion in babies.
✅ Sunlight helps regulate the production of melatonin - melatonin is our sleepy hormone
✅ Sunlight/natural helps newborns regulate their circadian rhythm. Exposure to natural light during the day in those early weeks can help baby start to know the difference between day and night.
✅ Exposure to natural light/sunlight tells us we are meant to be awake - it alerts our body it is up time.
✅ Also one of the big things is as baby gets older, being outside also sees babies become more active, which means they are then tired enough to sleep well!
✅ Natural light/sunlight also means it is helping our body produce vitamin D. Being deficient in Vitamin D can actually lead to sleep disturbances, poor sleep quality.
So what might my recommendations be?
When your baby wakes to start the day, and after they’ve taken great naps, throw open their blinds, take then into a beautifully lit room - this is going to let their body know their awake time has started.
In the later afternoon - take them outside for some beautiful fresh air, a play (activity) and expose them to natural light. This is going to benefit your babies bedtime, particularly if their bedroom is PITCH BLACK for their sleeps.
For the first 6 weeks, you MAY have your baby take their naps in a well lit room to help rectify any day/night confusion.