STUDY: Children Are More Likely To Behave If They Have A Regular Bedtime

[FarCenter]

Young children who don't have a regular bedtime behave worse than kids who go to sleep at the same time each night, a new study suggests.

British researchers found that both mothers and teachers rated 7-year-olds who had inconsistent bedtimes as being more hyperactive than their better-rested peers, and as having more social, emotional and conduct problems.

The results also revealed that behavior grew worse the more years a child spent without a firm bedtime. But the good news is that children's behavior noticeably improved when they switched to a scheduled bedtime.

"This is a very well-done study that in many ways reaffirms what we already know about a lack of sleep," said Dr. Carolyn D'Ambrosio, director of the sleep center at Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, who was not involved in the research.

http://www.businessinsider.com/regular-bedtime-improves-child-behavior-2013-10

[seabeyond]

1. i knew it. nt

[uppityperson]

2. Which is cause, which is effect? Being hyperactive affects ability to go to sleep at same time night

nightly or kids who do not go to sleep every night become hyperactive?

Or is it correlation? Hyperactive kids have a hard time holding a regular sleep schedule?

[FarCenter]

4. "children who switched to a more regular bedtime had clear improvements in their behavior"

The study authors found a clear dose-response pattern; as children progressed through early childhood without a regular bedtime, their behavioral scores worsened. However, children who switched to a more regular bedtime had clear improvements in their behavior -

See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Go-to-Bed-Study-Finds-Irregular-Bedtimes-Linked-to-Behavior-Problems-in-Children.aspx

[Mariana]

5. Since their behavior improved

when they were put on a regular bedtime, I guess the behavior problems are exacerbated by the loose schedule.

It's still going to be different for every kid, even if they aren't hyperactive. My stepkid needed a regular bedtime and had to be made to go to bed at that times each night, or she'd have all kinds of problems, including physical ones. My daughter, on the other hand, always went to bed on her own when she needed to. The time would vary from night to night, but she never overslept and never exhibited any signs of sleep deprivation.

[laundry_queen]

8. 3 of my 4 kids are like your daughter.

They are pretty good at self regulating. I do have one (my 3rd), however, that will stay up till 1 am if I let her, and who has behavioral issues if she's tired. Since she was a baby she's needed tons of sleep, but she's always been good at deciding to go to bed if she was tired until this year. She's now at the age where she wants to try to stay up with her older sisters because she doesn't want to miss anything, and because of her need for sleep, I've had to get strict with her. But my other 3? They go to bed at reasonable hours, but times vary and they never have behavioral issues or hyperactivity issues or signs of being sleep deprived. I'm relaxed with bedtimes because my parents were over-the-top strict with bedtimes and tried to make me sleep 12 hours regularly, even when I was at the age I probably only needed 10. Lots of nights of staring at the ceiling (I wasn't allowed to read or anything). So I'm more relaxed.

[Quantess]

3. I am more likely to behave if I go to bed at a decent hour, too!

Funny how that works.

[LisaLynne]

6. I was just going to post that!

Really -- I think this is probably good for anyone.

[gollygee]

7. I know it makes a difference with my kids

During summer vacation, we sometimes get off track and start going to bed and getting up and various times rather than our regular times, and the kids just get cranky. I don't think of them as misbehaving as much as simply being cranky, but certainly being cranky can lead to misbehavior.