Inconsistent Bedtimes Impair Children’s Cognitive Development
A large longitudinal study conducted by investigators at University College London in the United Kingdom showed that irregular bedtimes in toddlers were associated with lower cognitive test scores at age 7 years, with girls particularly affected.
Findings suggest that inconsistent bedtimes, especially at very young ages and/or throughout early childhood, are linked to children’s cognitive development.
Although it is known that sleep plays a key role in maintaining healthy function, most of this evidence is based on studies in adults and adolescents, with little known about its impact in young children and their cognitive development.
The researchers note that previous small-scale studies examining its impact in a young pediatric population yielded mixed results. For the current study, the investigators aimed to examine the link between the time young children go to bed and their cognitive development in 11,178 7-year-olds who are participants in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS).
“Sleep is the price we pay for plasticity on the prior day and the investment needed to allow learning fresh the next day…. Early child development has profound influences on health and well-being across the life course. Therefore, reduced or disrupted sleep, especially if it occurs at key times in development could have important impacts on health throughout life,” the authors conclude.
J Epidemiol Community Health. Published online July 8, 2013. Abstract
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