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Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
A longitudinal follow-up study of young children's sleep patterns using a developmental classification system
Erika E Gaylor1, Melissa M Burnham, Beth L Goodlin-Jones
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, USA.
Insights
Most toddlers experience sleep problems, but these issues typically resolve by age 4. Co-sleeping is common, but rarely reported as problematic, though some infants show persistent sleep difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep problems are common in early childhood.
- Understanding the trajectory and contributing factors of childhood sleep issues is crucial for development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and developmental course of sleep problems in children during their first four years of life.
- To examine the relationship between co-sleeping, self-soothing behaviors, and sleep problems.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 68 families.
- Video observations of infant sleep in the first year.
- Annual phone interviews until age 4.
Main Results:
- 19% of children had sleep problems at age 2, which decreased over time.
- 25% of children co-slept, with only one-third finding it problematic.
- Infants who were stable, non-self-soothers in year 1 were more likely to have sleep onset issues and co-sleep at age 2.
Conclusions:
- Childhood sleep problems are prevalent but often transient.
- Co-sleeping is a common practice, not always perceived as a problem by parents.
- Specific infant sleep behaviors in the first year can predict later sleep onset difficulties and co-sleeping.
Abstract:
Sixty-eight families participated in a longitudinal study that included video observations of sleep during the 1st year of life and annual follow-up phone interviews until the children were 4 years of age. Results revealed that approximately 19% of children have a sleep problem at 2 years of age, defined either by research criteria or parental report, and that sleep problems diminished over time. Approximately 25% of children were reported to be cosleeping at each follow-up interview, but only a third of the parents reported this behavior to be problematic. A subgroup of infants (33%), who were considered stable, non-self-soothers in the 1st year, were more likely to have a sleep onset problem and be cosleeping at the 2-year follow-up assessment.
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