Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Sleep Science
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Establishing normative sleep patterns is crucial for child development and well-being.
• Previous research has varied in methodology and population scope, necessitating a comprehensive synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize data on normal sleep patterns in children aged 0-12 years.
• To establish reference values for key sleep parameters, including duration, night wakings, and sleep latency.
• To identify age- and geographically-related variations in sleep patterns.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Meta-analysis of sleep duration, night wakings, sleep latency, and nap frequency from 34 eligible studies.
• Application of fractional polynomial regression models to derive age-specific sleep equations.

Main Results:

• Reference values for sleep duration (hours) were established: infants (12.8), toddlers/preschoolers (11.9), and children (9.2).
• A best-fit equation for sleep duration across 0-12 years was determined (R(2)=0.89).
• Significant differences in sleep duration were observed between Asian and Caucasian/non-Asian populations, with Asian children sleeping less.

Conclusions:

• This review provides global reference values for normal sleep patterns in children aged 0-12 years.
• Sleep duration significantly decreases with age, and variations exist across different cultural groups.
• The findings offer a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, and parents in assessing child sleep.