Nutrition, éveil et sommeil : physiopathologie et influences environnementales chez le nourrisson et l'enfant

During the very first months of life feeding and sleep/wake rhythms are closely linked. The consolidation of nocturnal sleep is under the influence of time givers. The decrease in the number of nocturnal feedings and their progressive disappearance are among them. Breast-fed infants spend more time awake during the night and are more often fed than formula-fed infants; but when these nocturnal feedings persist after six months of age they are probably induced by environmental causes, such as sleep onset association with feeding, excessive nocturnal fluid intake, co-sleeping… These causes are more frequent in children who were breast-fed, when compared with bottled-fed children. Cow's milk allergy, dietetic errors such as deficit in lipid and excessive protein intake, insufficient or excessive fluid intake, malnutrition with protein and iron deficiencies, can induce insomnias in young children. Sleep deprivation has an impact on energetic metabolism. There is in young children a dose-response relationship between short sleeping hours and an increased risk for being overweight or obese.