Sleep Patterns, Problems and Ecology among Toddlers in Families with a Child Protective Services Maltreatment Referral.
Jonika B Hash, Monica L Oxford, Teresa M Ward and 2 others
PMID 31945664WHAT IT FOUND
Toddlers in families referred to Child Protective Services slept 43 minutes longer at night and 46 minutes less during the day than community toddlers, yet total 24-hour sleep was similar.
Behavioral sleep problems like frequent awakenings were common in both groups.
Key findings
01Nighttime sleep duration was 43 minutes longer in the CPS-referred sample compared to the population-based sample.
02Nap duration was 46 minutes shorter in the CPS-referred sample, but total 24-hour sleep did not differ significantly between the two groups.
03Approximately one-third of toddlers in the CPS sample had difficulty falling asleep on their own, and 23% of parents considered their toddler's sleep a problem.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Sleep measurement methods differed slightly between the two samples, particularly regarding how nap duration was reported, which may have affected the comparability of daytime sleep estimates. The study relied entirely on parent report, which can be subjective, and did not use objective measures like actigraphy. The population-based comparison group was not screened for CPS involvement, so some children in the 'community' sample might have also been from families with maltreatment referrals. The analysis did not differentiate between types of maltreatment or substantiated versus unsubstantiated referrals.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that similar total 24-hour sleep means similar sleep health. The CPS-referred toddlers had significantly less daytime sleep and more nighttime sleep, a distribution difference that may impact daytime functioning and requires specific screening for behavioral sleep problems.