Expert Workshop Tackles Infant Sleep Myths

Cristina Armengol, a 33-year-old from Ordino, is hosting a workshop on infant sleep this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Roc Blanc. Two years ago, she founded Criand, a company offering maternity support services. She emphasises that misinformation about baby sleep remains widespread, and the first step in consultations is to manage parental expectations.

Families often prepare extensively for birth and breastfeeding but overlook the physiology of infant sleep, Armengol notes. Many assume newborns should sleep through the night, yet understanding natural sleep cycles is key. Sleep affects biological, physical, and social development, she explains.

For babies aged zero to seven months, waking three or four times nightly is typical and rarely indicates pathology. These awakenings serve a survival purpose: infants need frequent feeding and physical contact to feel secure in their environment.

On co-sleeping, Armengol describes it as a personal choice with anthropological roots across societies. It works best with breastfeeding, no parental obesity, and avoidance of medications, drugs, or alcohol that impair judgment.

After seven months, awakenings should space out, influenced by the introduction of solid foods. Micro-awakenings may persist as children grow more aware of their surroundings and responsive to stimuli. Parents should intervene minimally to avoid full wake-ups.

Armengol stresses that 75% of sleep issues resolve through consistent habits and routines. The night mirrors the day, so from 6 p.m., families should adopt calming practices: dim lights, no screens, and no physical activities to prevent overstimulation. Progress takes time, however.

Work schedules pose challenges—if parents finish at 8 p.m., work-life balance becomes essential for healthy child populations, she says.

If problems persist, watch for warning signs like constant fatigue, hyperactivity, or snoring, which may require interdisciplinary medical input, such as respiratory specialists. Most cases, though, are resolvable, Armengol reassures.