February 27, 2017
Purdue prof to help mark first Baby Sleep Day on March 1
A. J. Schwichtenberg
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Baby Sleep Day is a new recognition day to help educate parents and caregivers about sleep for babies, says a Purdue University childhood development expert who will be answering related questions on Wednesday (March 1).
“This day brings attention and recognition to the importance of baby sleep – a critical part of development – and helps families struggling with sleep issues,” says A.J. Schwichtenberg, an assistant professor of human development and family studies.
Schwichtenberg, who is a developmental sleep researcher, is a member of the Pediatric Sleep Council, which is launching Baby Sleep Day.
Members of the Pediatric Sleep Council, including Schwichtenberg, will answer sleep questions for families around the globe in real time on the Pediatric Sleep Council’s Facebook page at facebook.com/pedsleep. Kicking things off in Australia and followed by the United Kingdom, sleep experts will be answering questions throughout the day. In the United States, questions will be answered from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST. Schwichtenberg will address questions from 3-3:30 p.m. EST.
Schwichtenberg also is a developmental sleep expert featured in the Pediatric Sleep Council’s new BabySleep.com website.
Her areas of expertise include:
* Sleep advice for children with autism
* Letting a baby cry and sleep attachment
* Children who wake up from naps upset
* Sudden night wakings
* Healthy sleep habits for babies
* Jet lag and babies
* Safe bedding for babies
The Pediatric Sleep Council is an independent group of experts that provides up-to-date information to parents and caregivers about pediatric sleep. The new website was partially funded by sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
Schwichtenberg also is leading an autism spectrum disorder Infant Sibling Study. This study also is part of the Autism Speaks: Baby Sibling Research Consortium, which is one of more than two-dozen sites in the nation that collects data on 4,000 families for a variety of studies of autism. Schwichtenberg’s study focuses on the roles of sleep in early autism development.
Schwichtenberg also has courtesy appointments in the departments of Psychological Sciences and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. She also is co-director for the Purdue Autism Cluster.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Source: A.J. Schwichtenberg, ajschwichtenberg@purdue.edu
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