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Life stages: what the research actually says

How sleep changes with age and after having children — and which changes are normal rather than a problem to fix.

All studies · 3

Long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathersRichter D, Krämer MD, Tang NKY, Montgomery-Downs HE, Lemola S · Sleep 42(4):zsz015 · 2019Parents' sleep satisfaction and duration did not fully recover for up to 6 years after the first child, most markedly in mothers.Trajectories of maternal sleep problems before and after childbirth: a longitudinal population-based studySivertsen B, Hysing M, Dørheim SK, Eberhard-Gran M · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 15:129 · 2015Insomnia was common in late pregnancy and persisted at 2 years postpartum in a large share of mothers.Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individualsOhayon MM, Carskadon MA, Guilleminault C, Vitiello MV · Sleep 27(7):1255–1273 · 2004Total sleep time and deep sleep decline modestly across adulthood — some reduction with age is normal.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the research say about life stages?

Total sleep time and deep sleep decline modestly across adulthood — some reduction with age is normal.

How do I track life stages?

SleepShred logs it in about 20 seconds a day and then compares your nights with and without it, so you see the effect on your own sleep instead of the study average.

Is SleepShred free?

No. SleepShred Pro is $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year, with no free trial and no ads. Everything stays on your iPhone.

Track it, don't guess it

SleepShred turns this research into a 20-second daily habit: log your night, see which of your own behaviours move your sleep, and screen for the disorders nobody diagnoses.

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Educational summary of published research, not medical advice. Screening scores are not diagnoses. If a score is elevated or you feel unwell, talk to a clinician.