Advice to help you sleep easy

As adults, we all tend to appreciate the benefits of a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, babies often live by their own rules. And for parents of young children, sleep can too often be considered a distant memory. Fortunately, help is at hand.

Sleep Tight, a new booklet released this week by one of Australia's leading health insurance providers Bupa Australia, which operates as HBA, Mutual Community and MBF, helps to make sleep for the entire family attainable. It is a simple, practical guide for parents to help settle children from birth to two years.

Developed as part of HBA's 'Promoting healthy children for life' joint initiative with the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH), Sleep Tight provides simple, practical guidance from how much sleep your child needs to tips on how to settle your loved one into a sleep routine.

According to the 2007 annual HealthWatch survey*, 51% of Australians said they were not getting enough sleep and blamed a range of factors including family issues such as having young children.

"Sleep is the third dimension of good health after exercise and good nutrition. Most of the body's growth and development occurs when we sleep and it allows the brain much needed 'downtime' so that we feel rested and rejuvenated," said Dr Christine Bennett, Chief Medical Officer at Bupa Australia.

"Babies need an average of 14 and 15 hours sleep per day while adults need 7 - 8 hours sleep to live their life to the full*. Using the tips in this guide and getting as much sleep as you can will help you to enjoy the new little person in your life."

Almost half (45%) of all 6-12 month old babies have a sleep problem, according to sleep research undertaken by CCCH**, one of Australia's leading authorities in early childhood development. The Centre's research has also shown a strong link between infant sleep problems and post-natal depression, a condition affecting 15% of all mothers.

"A good night's sleep is not only essential for growing babies but also for new parents' health and wellbeing," explains Professor Frank Oberklaid, Director of CCCH.

"We are delighted to have partnered with HBA on developing this practical and evidence-based sleep resource for families."

Sleep Tight will be available nationwide in branches and network pharmacies. To locate a branch or network pharmacy near you, call the Customer Services helpline on 131 243.

Alternatively, go to hba.com.au/sleep_tight to download a free copy.

-ENDS-

*Source: 2007 annual HealthWatch survey, carried out by TNS Healthcare on behalf of MBF Australia Pty Ltd - part of the Bupa Australia group of companies.

**Source: Centre for Community Child Health 2007: Improving sleep and maternal mental health.

About Bupa Australia

As a leading health insurance provider, Bupa Australia comprises the health funds MBF, MBF Alliances (SGIO/SGIC/NRMA Health) and Bupa Australia Health (HBA/Mutual Community). This group of companies has a national footprint, supporting the healthcare needs of around three million Australians, and a market share of 28% (PHIAC March '08).

As part of a strong, global health and care focused group, the Bupa Australia group of companies is working towards leading the industry in product innovation and improved services and benefits for customers. In addition to its core private health insurance business, the Bupa Australia group of companies offers life, travel, motor vehicle, home and contents insurance in addition to financial planning, superannuation and managed investment products.

Bupa Australia is supported by Bupa Asia-Pacific based in Sydney, which also operates growing operations in Hong Kong, Thailand, India and China.

About the Centre for Community Child Health

The Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) has been at the forefront of Australian research into early childhood development and behaviour for over two decades. The CCCH is located at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne and is a key research centre of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and an academic centre of the University of Melbourne.

For further information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Bupa Australia
Suzanne Clarkson
Corporate Communications
Bupa Australia
M: 0411 385 063
E: suzanne.clarkson@bupa.com.au