0512 Concurrent and longitudinal linkages between bedtime routines and social-emotional development in toddlers

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Sleep is important for optimal development in early childhood. Instituting a consistent bedtime routine is an empirically supported behavioral intervention to promote early childhood sleep health. However, prior work has focused on the benefits of a bedtime routine for sleep outcomes, with little research on its potential benefits to social-emotional development. Thus, the current study examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between a consistent bedtime routine (defined as 5 or more nights per week) and social-emotional development in toddlers (ages 12.0 to 19.9 months). Methods Caregivers of 32 infants (M = 12.5mos, 59.4% female) completed baseline questionnaires about the frequency of their child’s bedtime routine and other evening activities at their scheduled 12-month well-child visit. At their child’s 15-month well visit, caregivers completed questionnaires including items on bedtime routine frequency, the communication and personal-social subscales of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA). Results Over half (59.4%) of caregivers reported a consistent child bedtime routine at 12 months and nearly three quarters (71.9%) reported a consistent bedtime routine at 15 months. Linear regression showed that having a consistent bedtime routine at 15 months was significantly associated with fewer concurrent social-emotional problems on the BITSEA, B = -2.40, p = .009, 95% CI [-3.86, -.94]. Toddlers who scored above the BITSEA cutoff for social-emotional concerns (31.3%) were engaged in a consistent bedtime routine less frequently (M = 4.50 nights/week) than those below the cutoff (M = 6.18 nights/week), p = .004, η2 = .24. However, bedtime routine frequency at 12 months did not predict 15-month BITSEA concerns, p>.05. No associations emerged between bedtime routine frequency at 12 or 15 months and the communication and personal-social ASQ scores. Conclusion A consistent bedtime routine is concurrently, but not longitudinally, associated with positive social-emotional development, including less frequent clinically significant concerns, in toddlers at 15 months of age. Bedtime routine frequency was not linked to communication or personal-social interactions. Implementing a consistent bedtime routine may be a feasible method to promote toddlers’ social-emotional development within the context of concerns. Support (If Any) This study was partially funded by the Simms/Mann Institute