Grant: Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing CDN Databases and Cohorts

A recent meta-analysis has described children naps patterns and highlighted important recommendations to address: a) to inform napping cessation prevalence rates and b) to better understand the role of napping in meeting children's 24h sleep need. Sleep is not only a matter of nocturnal sleep and major changes are observed from birth up to school entry. Naps have been shown to be beneficial for learning and emotion regulation, which are key ingredients for academic success. Other studies have shown that napping can have a negative impact on sleep consolidation, by shortening the duration of sleep at night. Specialists from early childhood centers do not know when naps should be stopped and would like to be guided by clear recommendations according to age groups. The present project has two objectives: (1) To document daytime sleep in infants and young children at each age including 5 months, 1.5 and 2.5 years of age and (2) To identify factors associated with nap cessation in preschoolers aged 2.5 to 6 years old. The project will use the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development I (1997/1998 -, n=2120) and II (2000 -, n= 4 700) two representative samples of children. Daytime sleep duration was assessed in children aged of 5 months of age to 6 years to mothers. This project will lead to clear recommendations to inform parents and specialists in childcare structures by establishing reference points of individual variations in patterns of naps to distinguish typically from atypical sleep development that may warrant investigation and/or intervention.