Tension between parents may cause sleeping problems in toddlers, study finds

By Staff Writer

Marital strains between parents can negatively impact a young child's sleeping patterns, according to a new study.

The report, which appears in the journal Child Development, reveals that marital instability can impact a toddler's sleep when they are as young as 18 months old. The findings are based on a study of 350 families. The experiment included only adopted children to rule out shared genes as a contributing factor.

Researchers began tracking children's sleeping patterns when they were nine months old and continued monitoring these behaviors over a nine-month period. Even after considering factors such as birth order, temperament levels and parents' anxiety, the team found that tension between parents caused sleeping problems for some children.

According to the study's authors, adults should be more cognizant of how their behavior in the home will affect their kids, even during their first year or two of life.

Sleep problems in children are characterized by a variety of symptoms, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports. The most common occurrences include bedwetting, frequently awakening during the night, having nightmares and teeth grinding.

Adolescents who have developmental problems may benefit from the positive activities that are offered by many summer camps for kids.