At 6 months of age, American infants sleep about 14 hours a day, whereas infants who are the same age in Kenya sleep about 12 hours a day, and infants in the Netherlands sleep about 16 hours a day.This variation is best explained as __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The variation in the amount of sleep among infants of different countries suggests that cultural practices are the best explanation. Sleep patterns are influenced by cultural habits, such as how parents soothe their infants, their expectations of infant sleep behavior, or the availability of quiet environments to sleep. Therefore, the differences in sleep amount among infants in the United States, Kenya, and the Netherlands reflect cultural differences in infant care practices.

At 6 Months of Age, American Infants Sleep About 14