Classification of young children's sleep problems: A pilot study

Objectives: This study examines videotaped sleep in infancy in an attempt t o predict the development of disturbed sleep during toddlerhood. In additio n, a tentative classification scheme that quantifies night waking and sleep onset problems in young children is proposed. Method: The sleep patterns o f 33 children were assessed at two points in time. At 12 months of age (tim e 1), sleep was videotaped on two consecutive nights. A self-soothing/signa ling index for 12-month-otds was constructed. At time 2 (mean age = 39 mont hs), a follow-up telephone interview assessed current sleep patterns and th e presence or absence of sleep problems. Results: The data suggest that the self-soothing/signaling index obtained at 12 months of age predicts night waking approximately 2 years later. Conclusions: The preliminary classifica tion scheme for night waking and sleep onset problems in young children war rants further study. Night waking in toddlers might be predictable from sle ep behaviors at 1 year of age.