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Study: Before-Bed Routine Improves Infant Sleep

Media release June 25, 2007

Clinical Study Finds Johnson’s® Before-Bed Routine Improves Infant Sleep

A clinical study conducted by sleep experts has found that a new Before-Bed Routine pioneered by Johnson & Johnson significantly improves infant sleep.

Babies were not the only ones to benefit from the trial. Results showed that mothers reported a reduction by more than 50 per cent in their own tension, anxiety and fatigue and an increase in their energy levels.

The results are heartening and may go some way in supporting women in the early stages of Post Natal Depression, says respected mental health therapist Leanne French.

“Recent research made public by Auckland University showed that one in three Kiwi mothers suffered from Post Natal Depression with New Zealand having one of the highest rates of Post Natal Depression in the world,” she says.

French says she’s pleased to see companies such as Johnson & Johnson taking a socially responsible attitude and helping to educate new parents with skills such as sleep routines.

“Sleep deprivation has many consequences. If mothers don’t sleep well it is likely they will display early symptoms of Post Natal Depression. Getting your baby to sleep soundly means that you get your sleep, allowing your body to do the deep healing and repair work that keeps you healthy,” says French.

The latest clinical study was conducted at Saint Joseph’s University Sleep Centre at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and involved 58 infants under two and their mothers.

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Dr Jodi Mindell, who led the clinical trial says the use of Johnson’s® baby bedtime bath™ and baby bedtime lotion™, which contain NaturalCalm™ essences, in the Before-Bed Routine, showed significant improvement in baby’s sleep. The study results found that babies fell asleep faster, stayed asleep longer and night awakenings were reduced by half.

The Before-Bed Routine consists of a warm bath with Johnson’s® bedtime bath™, followed by a gentle massage with Johnson’s bedtime lotion™ and then a quiet activity of the parent’s choice, such as reading, cuddling or listening to soft music.

“Getting enough sleep affects many aspects of an infant’s wellbeing such as mood, overall health, how well they learn and how they behave,” says Mindell.

Dr Alex Bartle, Director of the Sleep Well Clinics in New Zealand, says babies sleep structure is quite different to that of adults. “Babies do tend to wake during the night”, says Dr Bartle. “Problems arise when they are not able to soothe themselves back to sleep.”

“Many babies have to be taught to settle back to sleep, so a consistent routine is vital,” he says. “It’s important to establish this routine as soon as possible.”

Routines like this are not only vital for the health of the baby but also the baby’s parents, says French, who has treated numerous cases of PND in her fifteen years as a therapist.

Symptoms include; anxiety, panic attacks, uncontrollable crying, feeling empty and detached and lack of interest in most things.

Treatment for PND includes sleep, balanced meals and nutritional supplements, exercise, relaxation, counselling, receiving practical help and naturopathic or medical intervention.

French says that extreme PND where there is potential to harm self or baby needs immediate psychiatric intervention.

ENDS

Note to editors:

- Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D and Associate Director of the Sleep Disorders Centre at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Professor of Psychology at St. Joseph’s University and of Paediatrics at University School of Medicine led the clinical study examining babies’ sleep behaviour. The study evaluated infants with mild to moderate sleep issues. Mothers of the babies were asked to follow the Before-Bed Routine using Johnson’s® bedtime bath™ and bedtime lotion™ and to record their babies sleep habits and patterns.

- Dr. Alex Bartle (MB BS (Lond), Dip.Obst.(Auck), PGDip.Sleep Medicine (Syd). FRNZCGP) is Director of the Sleep Well Clinic, located in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Alex graduated from The London Hospital in 1970 and began general practice in Christchurch in 1978. In 2001, he began a sleep medicine practice in Christchurch, The Sleep Well Clinic. In April 2007 Alex left his General Practice to concentrate on the Sleep Well Clinics in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. He now runs the only full-time sleep Medicine practice in New Zealand, investigating and treating all Sleep Disorders from OSA to Insomnia, Shiftwork Disorders, to children who can’t sleep. Alex is on the Education Sub-Committee of the Australasian Sleep Association, with the express goal of devolving information about ‘sleep’ to Health Professionals, Industry, and the general public.

- Leanne French (Counsellor MNZAC) is a well -respected therapist who manages her own private practice. A former relationship counsellor columnist for leading women’s magazine New Idea, Leanne’s expertise has a high profile in the media and is regularly called upon by journalists on a wide range of subjects. Leanne has worked as a Family Court Counsellor, Addictions Counsellor and consultant to individuals for fifteen years. She has also provided corporate counselling for a number of successful businesses. Leanne has led teams of people in personal growth workshops for ten years, from women’s groups to business mentoring. Prior to her career as a therapist she managed a health clinic and was a trained pharmacy technician. Leanne is currently writing a relationship self-help book.

© Scoop Media

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