WESTCHESTER, IL — Children in households with bedtime rules and children who get adequate sleep score higher on a range of developmental assessments, according to a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 7, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.
Results indicate that among sleep habits, having a regular bedtime was the most consis¬tent predictor of positive developmental outcomes at 4 years of age. Scores for receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, literacy and early math abilities were higher in children whose parents reported having rules about what time their child goes to bed. Having an earlier bedtime also was predictive of higher scores for most developmental measures.
The study also provides a wealth of information about typical sleep patterns in 4-year-old children. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, preschool children should get a minimum of 11 hours of sleep each night. Getting less than this recommended amount of sleep, the study’s authors found, was associated with lower scores on phonological awareness, literacy and early math skills. The data show that many children are not getting the recommended amount of sleep, which may have negative consequences for their development and school achievement.
“Getting parents to set bedtime routines can be an important way to make a significant impact on children’s emergent literacy and language skills,” said lead author Erika Gaylor, PhD, early childhood policy researcher for SRI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute in Menlo Park, Calif. “Pediatricians can easily promote regular bedtimes with parents and children, behaviors which in turn lead to healthy sleep.”
Gaylor recommended that parents can help their preschooler get sufficient sleep by setting an appropriate time for their child to go to bed and interacting with their child at bedtime using routines such as reading books or telling stories.
The study involved a nationally representative sample of approximately 8,000 children who completed a direct assessment at 4 years of age as part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study — Birth Cohort. This analysis included information from parent phone interviews when their child was 9 months old and again when their child was 4 years old. Nighttime sleep duration was based on parent-reported usual bedtime and wake time. Developmental outcomes were assessed using a shortened set of items from standardized assessments. Results were controlled for potential confounders such as child and bedtime characteristics.
“This is by far the largest study of its kind to date. Previous studies have included up to 500 children in this age group,” Gaylor said. “It’s fortunate to have this rich dataset available for analysis.”
Last year a study in the August 2009 issue of Sleep Medicine also emphasized the importance of an early bedtime and consistent bedtime routine for children. It reported that children with a bedtime after 9 p.m. took longer to fall asleep and had a shorter total sleep time. Children without a consistent bedtime routine also were reported to obtain less sleep.
The SLEEP 2010 abstract supplement is available for download on the website of the journal Sleep at http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstractSupplement.aspx.
About SLEEP 2010
A joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, the annual SLEEP meeting brings together an international body of more than 5,000 leading clinicians and scientists in the fields of sleep medicine and sleep research. At SLEEP 2010 more than 1,100 research abstract presentations will showcase new findings that contribute to the understanding of sleep and the effective diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
About SRI International
Silicon Valley-based SRI International is one of the world’s leading independent research and technology development organizations. SRI, which was founded by Stanford University as Stanford Research Institute in 1946 and became independent in 1970, has been meeting the strategic needs of clients and partners for more than 60 years. Perhaps best known for its invention of the computer mouse and interactive computing, SRI has also been responsible for major advances in networking and communications, robotics, drug discovery and development, advanced materials, atmospheric research, education research, economic development, national security, and more. The nonprofit institute performs sponsored research and development for government agencies, businesses, and foundations. SRI also licenses its technologies, forms strategic alliances, and creates spin-off companies. In 2009, SRI’s consolidated revenues, including its wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, Sarnoff Corporation, were approximately $470 million.
Good point. I enjoy reading your article. Looking forward for more topics here. Thanks.
Business Genius
I was browsing the net and looking for some articles that might help me. And then, I found this one. This is really a big help and very informative. This would definitely help me. Such a nice article to recommend. Thanks a lot!
GCLP
It is true that a child who sleeps after 9.00pm will not have the same amount of quality sleep as a child who sleeps earlier even if they sleep the same amount of hours.
Research says two hours before midnight is better than 4 hours after midnight. Hence the earlier a child sleeps the better quality sleep he/she will get.
It is also vital to ensure that the mattress or bed a child sleeps on is comfortable and right for that child.
Great information, I too have found that there is a lot of mis information on the internet about babies bed time. I find it very difficult to get them to sleep.
Thank you for this interesting report. It is so good to have such a vast study acknowledge the importance of regular and early bedtimes.Enough sleep is crucial for children, and going to bed at a regular time helps them settle more easily, and sleep for longer. The regularity, as well as a recognisable bedtime routine, both physically trigger the body to get ready for sleep.And it’s never too early to start. Even the youngest baby benefits from a simple bedtime routine and a well-suited, age-appropriate baby sleep schedule.In the short term, it helps a baby sleep through the night more easily and sleep better overall. But it is also an important investment for the future: good sleeping skills promote optimal child development and good health throughout child- and adulthood.