Daytime nap and nighttime breastfeeding are associated with toddlers\u2019 nighttime sleep

Machiko Nakagawa,Yousuke Kaneshi,Akiko Ando,Kyoko Kobayashi,Mitsuru Kikuchi,Yuko Yoshimura,Takayo Nakazawa,Rika Fukutomi,Yoshihisa Oishi,Kazutoshi Cho,Rinshu Shimabukuro,Kazuo Mishima,Hidenobu Ohta,Hitoshi Yoda,Miwa Ozawa,Yoko Asaka,Keita Morioka,Michio Hirata,Masahiro Takeshima,Yusuke Mitani,Takashi Ikeda,Isao Kusakawa

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81970-6

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between toddlers' sleep arrangements and their nighttime sleep duration and other sleep variables. For this investigation, we performed a study in which child activity and sleep levels were recorded using actigraphy. The parents of 1.5-year-old toddlers (n = 106) were asked to attach an actigraphy unit to their child’s waist with an adjustable elastic belt and complete a sleep diary for 7 consecutive days. Questionnaires were used to assess the sleep arrangements of the toddlers. There was a significant negative correlation between nap duration and nighttime sleep duration, suggesting that longer nap sleep induces shorter nighttime sleep duration. Among the sleep arrangements, such as nighttime breastfeeding or co-sleeping, only nighttime breastfeeding predicted shorter nighttime sleep duration. Our findings indicate that shorter naps induce a longer nighttime sleep in 1.5-year-old toddlers while nighttime breastfeeding decreases their nighttime sleep duration.

Highlights

The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between toddlers’ sleep arrangements and their nighttime sleep duration and other sleep variables
Co-sleeping was demonstrated to be associated with persistent child night wakings and bedtime struggles[2,8,9,10] and infants’ poor sleep quality[10,11,12], according to reports by mothers. In another recent study, falling asleep independently was associated with longer nighttime sleep duration and fewer night wakings, whereas other sleep arrangements, such as co-sleeping or room-sharing, were n ot[13]
We did not examine whether sleep arrangements such as co-sleeping or nighttime breastfeeding influence nighttime sleep

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between toddlers’ sleep arrangements and their nighttime sleep duration and other sleep variables. Co-sleeping was demonstrated to be associated with persistent child night wakings and bedtime struggles[2,8,9,10] and infants’ poor sleep quality[10,11,12], according to reports by mothers In another recent study, falling asleep independently was associated with longer nighttime sleep duration and fewer night wakings, whereas other sleep arrangements, such as co-sleeping or room-sharing, were n ot[13]. Questionnaires to parents were used to assess the sleep arrangements of the toddlers This is the first actigraphic study to examine the effects of co-sleeping and/or nighttime breastfeeding on the nighttime sleep of toddlers approximately 1.5 years of age—an age at which a regular child health examination is performed nationwide in Japan

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion