Temper tantrums and attention problems may be exhibited by toddlers who were not able to get adequate sleep as infants, a new study says. Published in the journal Developmental Neuropsychology, the study looked into the possible link and association between poor sleep patterns and behavior problems when they grow up into toddlers.
The link was identified by researchers from Tel Aviv University led by Professor Avi Sadeh. They discovered that children who experienced recurrent wakings at night and interrupted sleep when they were babies displayed problematic behaviors and altered concentration when they turned 3 to 4 years old.
Parents assume that if their kids would not get enough sleep at night, they become cranky or restless the next day. However, researchers pointed out that the focus should be on long-term effects of interrupted sleep on the behavior, concentration and attention among toddlers.
"The fact that poor infant sleep predicts later attention and behavior irregularities has never been demonstrated before using objective measures," Professor Sadeh of TAU's School of Psychological Sciences said in a press release.
To land to their findings, infant sleep patterns of more than 80 babies ages 12 months old were identified through the use of a device wrapped around their wrists. After three to four years, they re-visited them by using a computerized test to gauge attention span. Aside from these objective cues, they also took into consideration parental observations and reports on their kids' problematic behaviors.
The researchers were also interested in determining if family history and genetics have something to do with children not getting enough sleep at night due to recurrent wakings. The findings of the study also reiterate that early diagnosis and intervention are important to curb sleep problems in babies.
Further assessment on sleep habits is now being considered by the researchers. In fact, they are currently conducting a follow-up study that explores the underlying characteristics of babies who sleep well through the night.
A report says that 25 to 40 percent of children and adolescents in the United States experience sleep disorders. Normal sleep hours were recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Infants ages 4 to 11 months old should get at least 12 hours of sleep, toddlers ages 1 to 2 years old should get around 11 to 14 hours of sleep and preschoolers should sleep for 10 to 13 hours.
