Sleep and Sensory Processing in Infants and Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study.

Katie Appleyard, Elizabeth Schaughency, Barry Taylor, Rachel Sayers, Jillian Haszard, Julie Lawrence, Rachael Taylor, Barbara Galland

Journal: The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association 2020;74(6):7406205010p1-7406205010p12

PMID: 33275561

Full Text on Ovid Technologies, Inc. View on PubMed

Abstract

IMPORTANCE

Typically developing children who are sensitive to sensory stimulation appear to have more sleep difficulties than children with average sensory sensitivities; however, at what age sleep difficulties emerge and whether they extend to children outside of sleep clinics are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between sleep and sensory processing in typically developing infants and toddlers.

DESIGN

Observational; cross-sectional and longitudinal.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

Children (N = 160) enrolled in a larger four-armed randomized controlled trial of overweight prevention in infancy (40 randomly selected from each arm).

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Parent-reported sleep patterns at ages 6 mo, 1 yr, 2 yr, and 2.5 yr. Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool questionnaire covering five sensory systems and higher level functions: praxis and social participation at age 2.5 yr. Relationships between sleep and sensory variables were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

More problematic sleep at age 2.5 yr was associated with more difficulties in social-relational skills (p < .001), a finding supported by the longitudinal data. Longer settling times were associated with higher vision (p = .036) and touch (p = .028) sensitivities at age 2.5 yr; in the longitudinal data (ages 6 mo-2.5 yr), longer settling times were associated with more sensitive hearing (p = .042).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Results support a link between sleep patterns and sensory processing difficulties in toddlers that, in some, can emerge in infancy. Practitioners should be alert to this association in young children presenting with sensory sensitivity or sleep challenges.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

Study findings illustrate that bedtime challenges in typically developing toddlers could be related to sensory processing. A possible way to assist more sensitive children in settling to sleep is to pay attention to visual, tactile, and auditory stimuli that potentially interfere with sleep onset.

Address: Katie Appleyard, PhD, is Assistant Research Fellow, Department of Women's and Children's Health and Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Elizabeth Schaughency, PhD, is Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Barry Taylor, MBChB, FRACP, is Professor and Pediatrician, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Rachel Sayers, MHealSc, is Assistant Research Fellow, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Jillian Haszard, PhD, is Biostatistician, Department of Women's and Children's Health and Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Julie Lawrence, PhD, is Research Fellow, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Rachael Taylor, PhD, is Research Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.; Barbara Galland, PhD, is Research Associate Professor, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand; [email protected].

DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2020.038182

Link outs

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Child, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Perception, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Sensation Disorders, Sleep