Introduction:
Perinatal smoking, encompassing both prenatal and postnatal exposure, has been linked to various adverse health outcomes in neonates. Among these, sleep disorders represent a significant yet underexplored area of concern. Adequate sleep is vital for neonatal development, and sleep disruptions can lead to longterm health issues.

Objective:
This study aims to identify the association between smoking and sleep disorders in neonates.

Materials and Methods:
A literature review was conducted by searching scientific articles in electronic databases using keywords such as “smoking,” “perinatal period,” “sleeping disorders,” “secondhand smoke exposure,” and “thirdhand smoke exposure,” among others.

Results:
Nicotine, a psychoactive component of tobacco, is associated with sleep disorders in neonates due to its impact on brain function and sleep-promoting neurons when exposed prenatally. The quality of neonatal sleep is further affected by secondary and tertiary exposure to tobacco smoke, leading to various sleep disturbances such as respiratory irregularities, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, delayed sleep onset and maintenance, nocturnal awakenings, irritability and crying, arousal disorders, sleep transition and wakefulness issues, excessive sleepiness, and night sweats. Neonates who breastfeed from mothers who have recently smoked experience shorter sleep durations compared to those breastfed by mothers who have refrained from smoking for several hours. Consequently, the higher the nicotine dose the neonate receives through breastfeeding (which depends on how close to the feeding the mother has smoked), the shorter the neonate’s sleep duration.

Conclusions:
The findings of the studies highlight the long-term and potentially serious clinical impacts on neonatal sleep due to perinatal exposure to maternal smoking. The development of educational programs to inform about the potential effects of smoking on neonatal sleep, along with support for mothers to quit smoking, will enhance health outcomes and protect neonates from future potential complications.