Respiratory adaptation during sleep in infants.

Respiratory adaptation during sleep improves with growth. The most vulnerable period for respiratory adaptation to sleep is from birth to 3 months of age. Factors that favor vulnerability are immaturity in ventilatory control and high rib cage compliance which impairs its effectiveness for ventilation. Improvement in respiratory adaptation during sleep is rapid during the first year of life. Sleep, and especially active (REM) sleep, is a risk period for respiratory disturbances in infants. Numerous factors may trigger apparent life threatening events. Respiratory disorders such as bronchiolitis, upper airway obstruction, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia impair respiratory adaptation during sleep. Treatment of respiratory disorders in infants must take into account the exacerbation of respiratory disturbances during sleep.