Complex childcare experiences and sleep outcomes in young children

Abstract

Objectives:Attending center-based childcare has been linked to shorter nighttime sleep in children.However, relatively little attention has been paid to the role of complexity and transition of childcarearrangements on children`s sleep. This study used prospective, nationally representative data to estimatethe associations between complex childcare experiences and sleep outcomes during infancy and toddlerhood.Design:Prospective longitudinal study.Setting:This study used 9-month (n = 3921) and 2.5-year-old (n = 3412) data from the Longitudinal Study ofAustralian Children. The 2-wave longitudinal sample included 3046 children.Intervention:Not applicable.Measurements:Complex childcare experiences were measured by time spent in center, relative, andnonrelative childcare; use of multiple childcare arrangements; and patterns of childcare use over the 2-wave period. Sleep outcomes included maternal reports of weekday and weekend nighttime sleep duration,difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, and restless sleeping of the child.Results:Cross-sectional analysis showed that, in addition to center childcare, hours spent in relative andnonrelative childcare were negatively associated with weekday nighttime sleep duration but not weekendnighttime sleep duration.Multiple childcare arrangements were not associated withworse sleep outcomes.Longitudinal analysis showed that the association between child age and nighttime sleep duration wasmoderated by patterns of childcare use. Late attenders and children who used childcare for 2 waves butchanged configuration had smaller increaseof nighttime sleep duration.Conclusions:In addition to center childcare, noncenter childcare may be an influential factor for children`snighttime sleep. Longitudinal patterns of childcare use can moderate children`s developmental trajectoriesof nighttime sleep.