Despite the importance of adequate and sufficient sleep, public health promotion of sleep as a health behavior remains minimal. Early childhood represents a critical window, when the foundations of life-long health are built. Inadequate and/or poor quality sleep then impairs social-emotional and cognitive function, and markedly increases obesity risk.
Short sleep duration, behavioral sleep problems (difficulty getting to/staying asleep) and sleep-disordered breathing peak during the preschool years (ages 3-5), at rates of 20%-50%. Healthy sleep habits during this time increase sleep duration and prevent behavioral sleep problems. Awareness of sleep-disordered breathing symptoms can lead to its timely treatment.
