PREVALENCE AND PERSISTENCE OF SLEEPING PR OBLEMS DURING THE PRESCHOOLYEARS - A PROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF SOUTH GERMAN CHILDREN

The prevalence and persistence of sleeping problems was studied in a p rospective investigation of a representative sample of 432 German chil dren at the ages of 5, 20 and 56 months. 21,5% of children had night w aking problems at 5 months, 21,8% at 20 months and 13,3% at 56 months. Falling asleep difficulties were diagnosed in 12,1% of 4-5 year olds. One in four of five year-olds slept regularly in the bed with the par ents (co-sleeping). Children with night waking problems had a 2,2 to 2 ,5 fold increased risk to remain nighwakers from one assessment point to the next compared with non-wakers. 7 to 14% of parents were distres sed by their children's sleeping behaviour. Parental behaviour often c ontributed to continued sleeping problems because the children were no t supported in acquiring appropriate skills to settle to sleep unaided . A developmental model for the treatment of sleeping problems is disc ussed.