SLEEP PATTERNS OF INFANTS AND YOUNG-CHILDREN IN ISRAEL

The sleep habits of 661 Israeli children between the ages of 4 months and 4 years were described by their mothers. Twenty-eight per cent rep orted that their children woke up at least once a week. In the group o f regular wakers, the mean number of interrupted nights per week was 4 .7, and the mean number of awakenings per night was 2.0. Significant a ge-related changes in sleep patterns were indicated. The results of th is study suggest that sleep and settling patterns in different sociocu ltural groups are quite similar. These data indicate the existence of an inherent pattern in the maturation of sleep behaviour in the develo ping child.