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[Sleep of 4-month-old infants: bedtime, night waking and sleep problems]

Junko Hayama1, Yoshiko Adachi, Noriko Nishino

  • 1Institute of Behavioral Health.

[Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi] Japanese Journal of Public Health
|September 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Late bedtimes and frequent night waking are common in 4-month-old Japanese infants, potentially indicating delayed circadian rhythm development. These sleep issues were more prevalent in infants who woke during the night, though growth was unaffected.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Infant Development
  • Circadian Rhythms

Context:

  • Japanese infants exhibit increasingly late bedtimes, raising concerns about potential negative impacts on growth and development.
  • Understanding infant sleep patterns is crucial for early identification of potential issues.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the prevalence of late bedtimes and night waking in 4-month-old infants in Fukuoka City.
  • To examine the relationship between night waking and other sleep problems in this population.

Summary:

  • A study of 194 mother-infant pairs found 69.4% of infants had bedtimes at or after 10 p.m., with 57.2% experiencing night waking.
  • Infants who woke during the night (Waking Group) had more sleep problems, including difficulty settling and irregular bedtimes, compared to those who slept through.
  • No significant differences in infant height or weight were observed between the groups.

Impact:

  • The findings highlight late bedtime and night waking as characteristic of infant sleep in Fukuoka City.
  • Night waking may be an indicator of delayed circadian rhythm development in infants.
  • This research provides insights for pediatricians and parents regarding infant sleep disturbances.
Abstract

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