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[The development of sleep behavior within the first 5 years of life]
Insights
This study tracked sleep patterns in 320 Swiss children from 1.5 to 5 years old. Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
- Longitudinal Cohort Studies
Context:
- Investigates sleep behavior in a cohort of 320 Swiss children.
- Utilizes data from the first Zurich longitudinal study.
- Covers the age range from 1.5 to 5 years.
Purpose:
- To report on sleep patterns, including night sleep duration, day sleep prevalence, and total sleep time.
- To analyze the variability and correlations in sleep behaviors over time.
- To identify the occurrence of evening and night wakening and maternal perception of abnormality.
Summary:
- Average night sleep ranged from 11-12 hours, while day sleep decreased from 96% at 6-24 months to 20% at 5 years.
- Total sleep time reduced from 15 hours at 6-18 months to 12 hours at 5 years, with significant individual variability.
- Evening wakefulness affected 16%, night waking 40-50%, and 18% experienced nightly awakenings, with some considered abnormal by mothers.
Impact:
- Provides normative data on sleep development in early childhood.
- Highlights the significant individual differences in sleep duration and patterns.
- Informs clinical understanding of common sleep disturbances and parental concerns in young children.
Abstract:
Sleep behavior between 1/2 and 5 years in 320 Swiss children of the first Zurich longitudinal study is reported. The average length of night sleep between 1/2 and 5 years was 11 to 12 hours. Day sleep was noted in 96% of the children between 6 and 24 months, and in 20% at age 5. The total length of sleep between 6 and 18 months was 15 hours per 24 hours. It diminished to 12 hours at age 5. There was a large individual variability of day sleep and of night sleep at all ages. Positive correlations were found between the lengths of day sleep at different ages and between the lengths of night sleep at different ages. The length of day sleep and that of night sleep was negatively correlated between 2 and 5 years. Evening wakefulness was observed in 16% and night waking in 40 to 50% of all children. 18% woke up at least once each night. Night wakening between 2 and 5 years was positively correlated. In about half of the children with evening wakefulness and/or night wakening these sleep behaviors were considered as abnormal by the mothers.