Sleep/Wake Patterns and Parental Perceptions of Sleep in Children Born Preterm

Abstract

Study Objectives:To compare sleep/wake patterns in children born preterm in Australia vs Canada and determine cultural differences in the relationship between parental perception of sleep and actual sleep behaviors. Methods: Australian and Canadian children born preterm were recruited from the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity trial (n = 188, 5-12 y) and underwent 14 days actigraphy monitoring. Parents completed the National Sleep Foundation 2004 Sleep in America questionnaire. Cross-cultural differences in sleep characteristics assessed by actigraphy and parent-reported questionnaire were examined. Correlational analyses determined the associations between parental perceptions of child sleep need and sleep behavior. Results: Actigraphy showed preterm children obtained, on average, 8 h sleep/night, one hour less than population recommendations for their age. There was no difference in total sleep time (TST) between Australian and Canadian cohorts; however, bed and wake times were earlier in Australian children. Bedtimes and TST varied by 60 minutes from night to night in both cohorts. Parent-reported child TST on the National Sleep Foundation questionnaire was 90 minutes longer than recorded by actigraphy. Both bedtime and TST on weekdays and weekends were related to parental perception of child sleep need in the Australian cohort. Only TST on weekdays was related to parental perception of child sleep need in the Canadian cohort. Conclusions: This study suggests that short sleep duration and irregular sleep schedules are common in children born preterm. Cultural differences in the association between parental perception of child sleep need and actual sleep behaviors provide important targets for future sleep health education.

Being Born Too Small and Too Early May Alter Sleep in Childhood

“…We chose SE as the primary outcome, as lower birth weight is associated with lower sleep efficiency (assessed by actigraphy) in children 13 and to replicate a clinically relevant measure as normal spectral EEG values have not been established. Nonetheless, in this study, we did identify significant differences in sleep parameters with our small sample size, which marry to those previously published in preterm children, 34 and therefore, we are confident that our findings are robust.…”

“…Shorter sleep duration in preterm AGA children has been suggested previously. 34 Using actigraphy studies, children born preterm aged 7-12 averaged 8 hours sleep per night, 1 hour less than population recommendations for their age. 34 Short sleep duration may arise due to altered circadian rhythms in children born preterm.…”

“…34 Using actigraphy studies, children born preterm aged 7-12 averaged 8 hours sleep per night, 1 hour less than population recommendations for their age. 34 Short sleep duration may arise due to altered circadian rhythms in children born preterm. Previous studies show that prematurity is associated with earlier sleep onset times compared in both children 35 and adolescents.…”

Waking up too early – the consequences of preterm birth on sleep development

“…In a combined Australian and Canadian study of older children (5–12 years of age) born preterm (∼27 weeks GA, 942–998 g), sleep measured by actigraphy and by parental assessment showed that these children also had a shorter sleep duration, sleeping on average around 8 h (Biggs et al . ), with earlier bed and wake times seen in the Australian children. This is in contrast to the recommended sleep durations of 10–13 h for 5‐year‐olds, 9–11 h for 6–13‐year‐olds (Biggs et al .…”

How reliable are commercially available trackers in detecting daytime sleep

“…Actigraphy is not a direct measurement of sleep, but is a convenient alternative method to determine someone's sleep patterns. There are professional‐level actigraphs that already have been validated in published studies .…”