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Night-to-Night Variability in the Bedtime Routine Predicts Sleep in Toddlers

Amanda Prokasky1, Matthew Fritz2, Victoria J Molfese3

  • 1162F Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School University of Nebraska- Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0858.

Early Childhood Research Quarterly
|March 24, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Consistent toddler bedtime routines improve sleep. Keeping nightly routines the same on weekdays and weekends significantly impacts sleep duration and quality, according to this study on 185 toddlers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Science
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Bedtime routines are crucial for toddler sleep regulation.
  • Variability in routines may negatively impact sleep outcomes.
  • Understanding the impact of routine consistency is essential for child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between nightly bedtime routines and sleep outcomes in toddlers.
  • To examine how routine variability and weekday/weekend differences affect sleep duration and quality.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing toddler sleep through consistent routines.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 185 toddlers (30 months old) participated.
  • Parents recorded bedtime routine activities and duration for 2 weeks.
  • Actigraphy was used to objectively measure toddler sleep patterns.
  • Correlational, difference, and multi-level regression analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • Toddlers exhibited different bedtime routines on weeknights versus weekends.
  • Nightly bedtime routine variability significantly affected parent-reported sleep duration.
  • Differences in routines between weekdays and weekends impacted actigraphy-measured sleep duration and efficiency.
  • Consistent routines correlated with better sleep outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Maintaining consistent bedtime routines across weeknights and weekends is vital for optimal toddler sleep.
  • Routine variability on a given night impacts immediate sleep duration.
  • Consistent routines promote better objective sleep duration and efficiency in toddlers.

Keywords:
actigraphbedtime routinesmultilevel modelingtoddler sleep

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