Volume 2 – From Birth to 29 Months

Number 4 – Sleep: Development and Associated Factors

Sleep problems in young children are a major concern of parents and one of the most common reasons for consulting a doctor in clinical pediatrics. The consequences of poor sleep are many, and can affect all aspects of child development. This paper focuses on the evolution of sleep characteristics in Québec children at the ages of 5, 17 and 29 months, and on the prevalence and development of various parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, etc. at these ages. The trajectories of good and poor sleepers, certain characteristics of the child and family, living conditions and parental practices associated with sleeping through the night at 17 and 29 months are also presented. Data from future rounds of the QLSCD will help gain a better understanding of the relationship between sleep and various aspects of child development (height/weight, motor, cognitive and social).